Color guide
16-Season vs 12-Season Color Analysis: Compare the Method, Not Just the Label
Sixteen categories do not automatically make a color analysis more accurate than twelve. First ask which method defines the categories. This site uses twelve named palettes; Lapis describes its own 16 Types Color Method®. A matching word on two reports is a reason to compare the actual colors, not proof that the results are identical.
What Lapis actually describes
Lapis presents its named method as a subdivision of four seasonal groups using its own color attributes. It also describes first and second types. That differs from simply attaching four extra ‘bright’ seasons to an existing twelve-type list. Follow the method owner's terminology when interpreting a report produced in that method.
Source: Lapis · 16 Types Color Method®
Why a universal translation table would mislead
Words such as bright, clear, muted, soft, warm or true can play different roles in different systems. Instead of converting a label automatically, ask which fabrics were compared and what characteristic mattered most. A report that says ‘lightness matters more than warmth’ gives you a useful shopping question even before you compare seasonal names.
More categories are not an accuracy study
We do not have evidence for a universal 90% agreement between twelve- and sixteen-type services. Category count, consultation quality and the usefulness of the final recommendations are separate questions. A photo-based result also depends on the image supplied; it should not be described as the same procedure as in-person fabric comparison.
Source: Nikon · Setting White Balance
What to compare between two services
| Ask about | A useful answer | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Method name | The organization or framework defining the labels | Avoids treating every sixteen-type offer as one system. |
| Main color characteristic | Lighter/deeper, warmer/cooler, clearer/more muted | Turns a label into a practical comparison. |
| First and second type | What those terms mean in that specific method | Avoids assuming the second type is an interchangeable season. |
| Actual reference colors | A physical swatch or clearly identified color examples | Lets you compare the recommendations themselves. |
| Delivery method | In-person fabrics, live video or photo interpretation | Makes the limitations and price easier to compare. |
| Use after the session | Clothing, makeup or wardrobe examples relevant to you | Tests whether the report answers your real decision. |
If two reports disagree
- Keep each report's original method and label together.
- Find two or three recommended colors that the reports share.
- Test those colors with retained clothes before choosing a side.
- Ask about the specific difference: value, warmth, intensity or contrast.
- Do not purchase a second analysis solely to make the category names match.
Frequently asked
Is the 16-type method just twelve seasons plus four bright types?
That is not an accurate description of every method. Lapis defines its own sixteen-type framework and terminology; check the named system rather than adding categories yourself.
Can I translate a sixteen-type result to this site's twelve palettes?
Use our palettes as comparison references. Match the actual color characteristics and useful examples, not a supposed certified one-to-one label conversion.
Which should I choose?
Compare the provider's method, process, deliverables and price against your needs. The number of categories alone does not tell you whether the service will help.
Try a starting palette from your photo
Upload a selfie for a free suggested palette, then compare it with your own clothes in consistent light. Photo-based suggestions can change with the image.
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