What's Your Color IQ?

Your color perception is uniquely YOU. In fact, how you perceive colors on any given day depends on individual factors like how well you slept last night, how many cups of coffee you've had, even what time of day it is. Add these factors to your age and gender, and you'll get an idea of why human color vision can be uniquely individual.

Now there's a simple test (like a little color puzzle) that you can take online to find your personal "Color IQ" from X-Rite and Pantone. The lower your score the better, with 0 being a perfect score. Want to see if you can match my perfect "0" score? Take the test by clicking here and share your color score ⬇ in the comments, let's see how you do!

Based on the Farnsworth Color Vision Test, the puzzle is used to evaluate color vision, testing how well you can see differences between hue variations across different color families. The original Farnsworth test was created about 50 years ago using small colored chips that subjects would physically put "in color order" under specially controlled lighting conditions. The test can evaluate your color acuity across the visual spectrum, and identify areas where your color vision is lacking. The online version isn't as accurate as the extensive in-person test (monitors differ greatly), but it's definitely fun!

Did you also know it's a scientific fact that folks who have a lot of experience working with color (artists, designers, etc.) can actually see MORE colors than folks who don't? It's the truth! And in my experience, folks that pay more attention to colors around them not only see more, but have more confidence in creating color combinations and palettes.

And this means if you'd like to increase your color sensitivity & confidence, you absolutely can. There's lots of folks that find their own ways to do this - through keeping a color journal, collecting pictures of inspirational colors & color palettes, or even doing regular color exercises.

One way that I've learned to increase color confidence is through using a color wheel (which is how I got that perfect score on the online Farnsworth Color IQ test!), and now I'm sharing the best of what I've learned through a series of lectures and hands-on classes. While working with a color wheel to explore color combinations and practice "seeing" colors might not be for everyone, it is a fantastic way to learn how to expand your own color sense. If you're not sure if this method might work for you, try to catch my lecture "What is a Color Wheel?" to learn all about what this tool is and how it works. If you like what you see (and I'm pretty sure you will), join me in a class or workshop to find out how you can integrate this tool into your own color practice.

Find out about current events in the "Lectures and Workshops" tab ⬆ at the top of my blog. If you're in an organization (guild, group, or shop) that would like to host a lecture or class, just shoot me an email and let's get it on the books.

Keep on looking for all the colors!