Accessible Colors: A Complete Guide for Web Design

Color is a potential tool as it can impact mood, catch attention, and could even be used to influence purchase choices. Still, people do not recognize color in a similar way. 

According to the WHO’s report of 2023, globally, at least 2.2 billion people have near or distance vision impairment, impacting how they perceive color.This could make it challenging but not impossible to access or understand details portrayed by color only. 

Making colors accessible makes sure individuals with visual impairments can differentiate between several web elements. More significantly, it could be the difference between a well-designed, fully illegible, and easy-to-navigate site.

For minimum contrast ratios to the precise use of color to communicate details, this blog post will offer clear instructions and best practices on how to make accessible color selections.

What are Accessible Colors and Color Contrast?

Understanding the difference between accessible colors and color contrast is crucial to creating accessible designs. Color contrast refers to the difference in light between a center element (like text or buttons) and its background. Visually impaired users need a minimum contrast ratio to differentiate these fundamentals. Contrast is articulated as a ratio, with higher numbers representing greater contrast. For instance, black and white have the maximum at 21:1, while white and red have 3.9:1, which falls below the WCAG minimum of 4.5:1.

Color accessibility focuses on creating color combinations that are visible to people with visual impairments, enhancing website navigation, and improving user experience. Both color contrast and accessible colors improve usability and inclusivity; the right contrast improves readability, while accessible colors ensure all users can connect with content. Shortly, using the right contrast and accessible colors improves user experience and supports a comprehensive, accessible design.

WCAG Guidelines for Accessible Colors

Using accessible colors isn’t just good design, it’s a legal requirement. Global accessibility laws such as the ADA (U.S.), EAA (EU), AODA (Ontario), and WCAG guidelines dictate enough color contrast for users with impairments.

Under ADA Title III, U.S. organizations must ensure digital content is accessible or face legal penalties. This involves using color schemes with sufficient contrast.

WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 outline three levels of color contrast compliance:

• Level A: Color can’t be the only means of sharing details.
• Level AA: Minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text.
• Level AAA: Highest standard, needing 7:1 for normal text and 4.5:1 for large text.

Best practice: Aim for Level AA or above; the more contrast, the more accessible your design will be.

Best Practices for Accessible Colors

Creating accessible colors comprises strategic color selection and careful attention to usability and readability. Here are the best practices that will help you create accessible, inclusive design for all users, not only for those with disabilities.

• Choose Accessible Color Combinations

Choosing accessible color combinations is an important step in creating accessible colors. Look for high contrast to help users easily differentiate between background and foreground elements. Test contrast ratios with a color contrast checker, aiming for a minimum ratio of 4.5:1. It’s best to use colors from contrasting ends of the spectrum, like black and white, or complementary pairs like orange and blue, red and green, or yellow and purple to ensure clarity and readability.

• Ensure Text is Readable

Make sure all text is readable against a background. Considering factors like font size, style, and weight alongside color contrast. For instance, a lighter text on a darker background could improve readability, especially for users with color vision or low vision deficiencies. Avoid using color combinations that clash, which leads to readability issues and causes eye strain. This way, you could increase visual fatigue for all users, lessening the possibilities of them abandoning your site for another.

• Use a Color Contrast Checker

Colors could be tricky, specifically when creating an accessible color combination. Instead of manual testing and retesting color palettes (which could be time-consuming), use a color contrast checker. It has tools that automatically measure contrast levels between colors to enable you to design through an accessible palette from the start. 

How to Check if Your Colors Are Accessible?

Following best practices is a good beginning, but a good web accessibility checker that offers color contrast checking, completely meeting accessibility standards. These tools analyze contrast ratios against WCAG guidelines to ensure accessibility.

For example, WAC’s Color Contrast Checker measures color contrast on web elements, flags inaccessible combinations, and delivers shareable reports with recommendations, enhancing your content’s accessibility and user experience.

Why Accessible Colors Matter?

Accessible colors improve readability and usability for everyone, including users with visual impairments, color blindness, or situational challenges like glare or poor lighting. They also benefit older adults and those using low-resolution screens. Ultimately, they support a more inclusive and user-friendly digital experience.

How can you create Accessible Colors with WAC?

Accessible colors are required to improve the overall accessibility and usability of your site. If you are looking to improve your site’s accessibility, use WAC (Web Accessibility Checker), ensuring your color palette meets ADA and WCAG standards for a clear and inclusive experience.

Begin with our word accessibility checker, or discover WAC’s complete toolkit:

• Accessibility Widget: Text resizing, contrast controls, screen reader support.
• Accessibility Monitor: Real-time issue tracking and compliance alerts.
• Detailed Audit Reports: Fix bugs with step-by-step directions.
• Book a free demo with WAC and build a more accessible web today!

Author: Amna

Amna Shahid is a skilled content writer at WAC who crafts clear and engaging content that bridges the gap between complex software solutions and user requirements. With splendid storytelling skills and great knowledge around technology, Amna is professional in transforming complex software ideas into understanding and compelling prose.

Reviewed By: admin