Design plays an important role in usability and accessibility.
One of the most important aspects of accessible design is color contrast. If your audience struggles to read it due to poor color contrast, your message could be lost.
Color contrast refers to the difference in light between font (or anything in the foreground) and its background. The higher the contrast, the more legible the text is. This is particularly important for individuals with visual impairments, including color blindness and low vision.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide a standard measure for color contrast. They recommend a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18.66px and bold or 24px and not bold).
To meet this standard:
1. Basics of Color Theory
A fundamental understanding of color theory can be helpful. Colors close to each other on the color wheel (like different shades of blue) have lower contrast, while colors on opposite sides (like blue and orange) have higher contrast.
2. Online Tools
There are numerous online tools that can calculate the contrast ratio for you. Simply input your foreground and background colors, and these tools will give you a contrast ratio. Check the WebAIM’s Contrast Checker.
3. Implement Changes logically
When adjusting the color contrast on your website, balance between accessibility and design.
- Web Accessibility, a short introduction
- Understanding the Power of Semantic HTML Tags for Web Accessibility
- Mastering ARIA: Harnessing the Power of Accessible Rich Internet Applications
- Inclusive Design: A Guide to Implementing Adequate Color Contrast on Your Website
- Accessible Navigation: The Importance of Keyboard Navigation and How to Implement It
- Auditory Accessibility: Incorporating Captions and Audio Descriptions in Multimedia Content