A method is provided for identifying colors across illuminants using a processor configured by code executing therein, the method comprising capturing a sample image with an image recording device, the image including pixels representing a color sample under analysis and a color reference chart. The processor is also configured to execute comparing the color values of pixels representing the color reference chart of the sample image to the pixel values corresponding to a plurality of entries within a plurality of color reference datasets to determine the dataset representing the closest match of the illumination present at the time the sample image was captured. Using the identified illuminant, the color reference dataset having the closest illuminant is searched for the color under analysis.