Understanding Web Accessibility: The Importance of Colour Contrast

Design is more than just aesthetics; it is about communication. If your website's text isn't readable due to poor colour choices, you are effectively locking out a significant portion of your audience, including those with visual impairments or colour blindness.

What is WCAG?

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the gold standard for web accessibility. They categorise contrast ratios into different levels:

• AA (Level 2): Requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
• AAA (Level 3): The highest standard, requiring a 7:1 ratio for normal text and 4.5:1 for large text.

Professional Colour Management

To ensure your site meets these legal and ethical standards, you need to test your palettes scientifically rather than relying on "eye-balling" the design.

Colour Picker & Contrast Checker

Our Colour Tool is a dual-purpose utility for modern designers. It allows you to:

1. Pick and Convert: Select a colour and instantly get the HEX and RGB codes for your CSS.
2. Validate Contrast: Automatically check your chosen colour against black and white backgrounds to see if it passes WCAG AA or AAA standards.

Tips for Accessible Design

• Avoid Colour-Only Cues: Never rely solely on colour to convey meaning (e.g., "click the red button"). Use text labels as well.
• Check Mobile Readability: Contrast is even more important on mobile devices where screen glare can make low-contrast text impossible to read.
• Use High-Contrast Themes: If your brand colours are low-contrast, consider a "High Contrast" toggle for your interface.

Conclusion

Inclusive design is better design. By using professional tools to verify your contrast ratios, you ensure that your content is accessible to everyone, regardless of their visual capability or the environment they are in.