COLOR AND CONTRAST

Low contrast makes text difficult to read for everyone. This is especially true for people with visual impairments, but it’s true for everyone. We often think of light colors on a white background, such as yellow text.

An incident in which I had to advise on an accessibility brochure for students. The brochure described their rights and responsibilities regarding accessible education. The designer had chosen light yellow font on a white background. Even with my perfect eyesight, the text was illegible. When I commented on this, the response was, “Yeah, but kids like colors!”

This answer completely missed the point. The brochure wasn’t for children, but for (young) adults seeking support for their education and future. Part of the target audience was actually people with visual impairments. This example shows how a design, no matter how well-intentioned, can overwhelm its purpose.

Too high contrast

What far fewer people consider is that contrast can also be too high. Text that stands out too sharply against the background can cause visual stress. Black on stark white is the classic example.

Experience it yourself:
Take a white sheet of paper and draw a black dot on it. Concentrate on this dot for about a minute. Then look at a white wall. You’ll likely see a “ghost image” of the dot, often with a red and green border and a faint shadow.

This effect also occurs when people have to concentrate hard to read, such as with dyslexia or a visual impairment. Reading black letters on a stark white background—whether on paper or a bright screen—can be incredibly tiring.

The resulting symptoms are serious:

• The letters appear to move or “dance.”
• Nausea, similar to car sickness.
• Ocular migraines.

This can cause a downward spiral. You see faint colored edges around the letters, forcing you to concentrate harder. This extra effort worsens the symptoms, requiring even more concentration, and so on.

Good balance in contrast through color

Fortunately, there are simple solutions to make the reading experience more enjoyable for everyone.

For the reader: A simple and inexpensive solution is to use a colored, transparent sheet (a “reading ruler” or “overlay”). You can often find these at a craft store for less than a euro. Bring a piece of text and overlay the different colors to see which one reads best for you. Red, green, and blue are popular choices that soften the harsh contrast.

For the designer and writer: As the content creator, you can have the greatest impact.

• Dark mode: A common mistake is to simply invert the colors to white letters on a black background (dark mode). Even though the screen light is less bright, the contrast remains the same. The red and green ghost edges then appear on the inside of the letters, which doesn’t solve the problem and makes them harder to read.

• Choose soft colors: The most pleasant reading experience is often achieved with a combination of dark, but not completely black, text on an off-white or light yellow background. Consider dark blue or dark gray text. This combination has enough contrast to be clear, yet is soft enough to avoid visual stress.

• Use natural tones: Avoid bright, unnatural RGB screen colors. Instead, choose softer, more natural CMYK tones that are easier on the eyes.

• Black and White Use 80% black: If you’re using print-on-demand (POD) and can’t use color, set the text color to 80% black instead of 100%. This small difference lowers the contrast to a much more pleasant level without compromising readability.

A little effort, a world of difference

Adjusting color and contrast may seem like a minor detail, but it’s a small effort with a huge impact. Not only does it help people with dyslexia and visual impairments find the information they need, but it also saves them a lot of grief and frustration.

Ultimately, a design that’s easier on the eyes is more enjoyable for everyone. Let’s work together to create a world where information is truly accessible to everyone.