What is contrast level and why does it matter?

The 4 contrast levels

Light - Low tonal contrast

True - Medium tonal contrast

Vivid - Medium to dark tonal contrast

Contrasting - High tonal contrast

In the Color Alliance system we get beautiful descriptions like Light Porcelaine Summer, True Bordeaux Autumn, Contrasting Ultramarine Spring, Vivid Cresset Autumn. In fact there’s 372 different classifications and millions of possible color combinations. Our coloring is almost as unique as our finger prints.

In Color Alliance the contrast level is a big part of the analysis and it really makes a difference if you in addition to your right colors also use the right Contrast level. It is about tonal contrast which is the contrast between light and dark.

As you can see below I have desaturated the pictures to make it easier to see the contrast level.

Light

Beautiful Michelle is a Light Porcelaine Summer

Your skin, hair, and eye coloring is light overall. Your best color combinations balance light to mid-range colors. Your best single colors are light to medium.

If we put Michelle in a dark or a high tonal contrast outfit her delicate coloring will be overwhelmed.

Lights will always have light hair, but everone with light hair will not necessarily be Lights. It is the combination of skin, hair and eyes that determines the contrast level. Sometimes the lines between the contrast levels can be very fine.

True

Gorgeous Manuela is a True Bordeaux Autumn

Your skin, hair, and eye coloring is medium. Your best color combinations are medium worn with dark. Your best single colors are also medium colors.

If we put Manuela in a lighter outfit than she`s wearing on this picture she would look more faded.

Trues have medium colored hair, the range is wide though, many can at first glance look like either a Light or a Contrasting. The difference can be minimal.

Vivid

My pretty DIL Donna is a Vivid Cresset Autumn

Your skin, hair, and eye coloring is mid-value to dark. Your best color combinations are bright and dark colors worn together. Your best single colors are bright.

If we put Donna if all light outfit she will fade a bit. Younger person can get away with more, and I think she`s pretty also in light outfits. She does shine brighter wearing her right contrast level though.

Vivids has darker skin tones than most caucasians. People of color are often Vivids.

Contrasting

Beautiful Marit is a Contrasting Ultramarine Spring

Your skin, hair, and eyes combine lights with darks. Your best color combinations are light and dark colors worn together with a bright accent. Your best single colors are dark or bright.

If I wear a light or a medium neutral outfit I will fade.

All contrastings does not need to have dark hair, in fact there are many with light hair who are contrastings. It`s the combination of skin, hair and eyes that determines the contrast level.

This week we will have a lot of content about contrast levels in my Facebook group (4) Colors In Style By Kari Community | Facebook

You are most welcome to join if you want to learn more,

I’m a Contrasting panache autumn, what season are you?