Contents+
The 12 season system takes the four classic seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter) and splits each into three by depth and chroma. You get a more precise palette than four seasons can offer, matched to your exact undertone, depth, and brightness.
From four to twelve
The original system sorts people into four warm or cool, light or deep families. Twelve seasons keep those four but give each one a second trait, so every season has a main quality and a backup one. That extra axis is what makes the palette specific enough to be useful.
The twelve, by family
Each links straight to its full palette:
- Spring, warm: Light Spring, Warm Spring, Clear Spring
- Summer, cool: Light Summer, Cool Summer, Soft Summer
- Autumn, warm: Soft Autumn, Warm Autumn, Deep Autumn
- Winter, cool: Cool Winter, Clear Winter, Deep Winter
| Season | Undertone | Stands out for |
|---|---|---|
| Light Spring | Warm | Lightness |
| Warm Spring | Warm | Warmth |
| Clear Spring | Warm-neutral | Brightness |
| Light Summer | Cool | Lightness |
| Cool Summer | Cool | Coolness |
| Soft Summer | Cool-neutral | Softness |
| Soft Autumn | Warm-neutral | Softness |
| Warm Autumn | Warm | Warmth |
| Deep Autumn | Warm | Depth |
| Cool Winter | Cool | Coolness |
| Clear Winter | Cool | Brightness |
| Deep Winter | Cool | Depth |
Why bother with twelve
Four seasons throw very different people in the same bucket. A delicate Light Summer and a striking Cool Winter both count as cool, but their palettes barely touch. Twelve seasons keep them apart, so the colors you walk away with actually fit your depth and brightness instead of just your temperature.
Finding your sub-season
Start with your family from your undertone, then place yourself by depth and chroma. The neighbours on either side are the easy ones to mix up, which is exactly what the comparison guides are for.
Quick answers
Common questions.
What is the 12 season color analysis system?+
It expands the four classic seasons into twelve by adding depth and chroma, giving a more precise personal palette matched to your exact coloring.
What are the 12 seasons?+
Light, Warm, and Clear Spring; Light, Cool, and Soft Summer; Soft, Warm, and Deep Autumn; Cool, Clear, and Deep Winter.
Which season system is best?+
The 12-season system is the most widely used today. It's more precise than the original four without the extra complexity of 16-season models, and its palettes fit real faces well.
Emily Kim
Color researcher, Yuree
Emily researches color theory and the science behind seasonal analysis at Yuree. She digs through the studies and the data so the guides are built on more than vibes, and translates the findings into steps you can actually follow.
Further reading