It can be tricky to determine the undertone of a color. The undertone is the underlying hue that gives a color its unique character. Every color on Earth is either blue or yellow based. Many people call this 'warm' for yellow based or 'cool' for blue based. When someone is on the cusp, meaning their pigmentation is not obviously one or the other, people may refer to them as having 'neutral' pigmentation. However, they are blue or yellow based. It is just harder to tell.
We know this to be true from decades of scientific research conducted by Bob Dorr who discovered the Blue Base/ Yellow Base Color System. My grandmother and I are here to set the record straight and teach the fundamentals.
While it can be difficult to see undertones in certain situations, using a white or cream background can be a simple and effective way to identify them. You can use this trick when analyzing personal coloring or even when trying to figure out the undertone of a fabric or paint!
One of the best ways to see undertones is to place the item of interest next to or on a white or cream background. The contrast between the color and the background will make the undertone more visible. For example, if you place a blue-based person on a white background, the blue undertone will be more pronounced. They will look even more lively if they are blue based. Similarly, if you place a yellow-based person on a cream white background, the yellow undertones will be more visible and it will look harmonious.
Here are some examples to show you what we mean.
Here you can see that no blue or pink undertones shine through next to a white background.
Here her beautiful natural golden yellow hues are harmonious with the creamy white background, showing that she is in fact yellow based! Her nails are even a yellow based green. We are drawn to colors in our spectrum!
Here we can see clearly that she has rosy pink hues that stand out next to the white background. Her hair is raven jet black and she looks great in that white white top.
When placed against a creamy white background, she sticks out and is not harmonious. She looked more vibrant against the blue based white.
Another blue based woman here. The beautiful red hues in her skin stand out against this blue based white and she looks vibrant. You can also tell by the whites in her eyes which match the background.
When placed against the creamy white background she stands out from the background and doesn't feel harmonious.
This one is a bit tricky since she is wearing a blue based white top, but once you see her against the cream background below you will be able to see how much more harmonious she looks. Her yellow pigmentation stands out against this white.
Here her yellow based skin truly shines! The golden hues in her pigmentation work harmoniously with the creamy background.
It's also important to note that the lighting in the room can affect the way a color looks. Natural light can be the best way to see undertones, but if that's not possible, try to use a light source that is closest to natural daylight. 5600 Lumens is a good starting point for light that most closely resembles daylight.
Understanding the undertone of a color is crucial when it comes to color analysis and color coordination. Using a white or cream background can be an easy and effective way to see the undertone of a color. By using this technique and understanding the lighting in the room, you'll be able to identify the undertone of a color more easily.
Take our course on the fundamentals of the Blue Base / Yellow Base Color System to learn more about color harmony! Go to our home page to learn more.
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