High Contrast Color

High-contrast colors are defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as having a contrast ratio of 4.5:1 or higher. They are essential for individuals with visual impairments or color vision deficiencies to distinguish content effectively.

Standard Color Palette

A standard color palette will soon be accessible to the entire design center for use. All colors in the palette comply with the ADA's contrast compliance ratio. Moreover, the palette is designed to be color vision deficiency friendly due to its heightened contrast. It includes options for both white and black backgrounds.

To ensure text legibility on colors other than black and white, please utilize the compliance contrast checker tutorial provided on the Text on Photos page.

color palette.pdf

COLOR PALETTE DESIGN TESTS

The design on the left features the original colors, while the updated design with colors from the palette is on the right. For more examples, please expand the PDF.

color palette tests.pdf

CHOOSING COLORS FOR
COLOR VISION DEFICIENCY

While the color palette above and the tools below are intended to assist designers in selecting appropriate colors, it's important not to rely solely on color for conveying information on the page. Use labeling, rules, patterns, and blurbs to clearly communicate the content.

COLORING FOR COLOR BLINDNESS

The Coloring for Color Blindness website simulates how your chosen color palette appears to readers with color vision deficiency.

COLOR BLIND SIMULATOR
(COBLIS )

The Color Blind Simulator website offers the most accurate simulation of color vision deficiency available today. While not perfect, it provides a close representation. Designers should engage with the tool and website to better understand the experience of color blind readers.

Designers should not be using the simulator to check pages as the simulator is not available for commercial use.

COLOR BREWER

The Color Brewer website is designed to facilitate accessible colors in graphics, particularly for maps. It offers options for selecting color-vision-deficient-friendly swatches for both sequential and diverging data. Additionally, it serves as a valuable tool for choosing gradient colors for graphics and general design purposes.

ELIMINATE POOR PRINTING

4 COLOR KNOCK OUT EFFECT

During printing, each color is applied individually in layers. The paper passes through the printing press four times, once for each color, resulting in a full spectrum of colors. Using all four inks increases the chance of plate shifting, known as a "4-color knockout." Refer to the image above for an example of the effect using 2 inks. For more color printing tips, check out 5 Tips for Designing on Newsprint by Brian Coale.

SCJ_JRNL_120223_01_A_010_00_01_NW.pdf

AVOID YELLOW ON WHITE/LIGHT COLOR

Yellows may print lighter than expected on certain presses. Whenever possible, avoid using yellows for headlines. However, yellow may be suitable for headlines placed over dark backgrounds or black, as it can enhance contrast rather than detract from it. Additionally, yellow can be used for non-essential elements that do not significantly affect comprehension or engagement with the content.

Think: stars, rules, shaded boxes, flourishes and background color.

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