Overview
This article helps students, faculty, and staff understand the meaning, purpose, and best practices of color contrast to help meet digital accessibility standards in their content. It provides tips for meeting contrast requirements and recommended tools to check contrast. Always refer to ADA digital accessibility standards for the most up-to-date compliance requirements.
What is Color Contrast?
Color contrast ensures that text and images of text are visually distinguishable for users, including those with low vision. Meeting this requirement improves readability and accessibility across digital content.
Best Practices
Source: Section508.gov – Color Contrast
- Maintain a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and images of text.
- For large text (18pt or 14pt bold), a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 is acceptable.
How to Check and Fix Color Contrast
To check color contrast, use built-in accessibility checkers in tools such as Microsoft Word or YuJa Panorama. Or, use the free WebAIM Contast Checker. To fix contrast issues, adjust the text color to a darker or lighter shade, or change the background color, until the required ratio is met.
Still Need Help?
Creative Production offers help with document formatting, design, and redesign if needed. Please note, Creative Production cannot ensure accessibility for content created by other users. They may need to re-create a document to ensure accessibly, if you choose to use their services. Costs apply. Submit a ticket to request Creative Production services
IT Solutions primarily supports digital accessibility for academic and course-related materials including document accessibility, captioning and transcription services. Support for other content may be available if time allows, with costs applying to non-course materials. Submit a ticket to request IT Solutions services