Color contrast

Color contrast plays a vital role in making your content readable. However, choosing the right contrast is not always as simple as using black and white.

While black text on a white background (or white text on black) is typically recommended because provides the highest contrast, it can also cause discomfort for some users. People with light sensitivity or certain cognitive disabilities may find this combination harsh or difficult to focus on.

A more comfortable alternative is light gray text on a dark gray background—or the reverse. This pairing still offers strong contrast but is gentler on the eyes, making it easier for many people to read.

If you would like to use color to enhance your content, it is best to do so with care. Color should be used in moderation. Too many colors can distract your audience and make your message harder to follow.

It is also important to consider color blindness. For example, people with red-green color deficiency may not be able to distinguish red from black. This means that if you rely on color alone to convey meaning, some users may miss important information.

You can test your color combinations with different tools:

• Grayscale mode: Available in most device accessibility settings, this mode removes color so you can see how your content appears without it.
• Color blindness simulators: These tools show how your content looks to people with different types of color vision deficiencies.
• Color contrast checkers: These tools measure the contrast ratio between text and background colors to ensure they meet accessibility standards.

One recommended tool is the TPGi: Colour Contrast Analyser (CCA). It calculates the contrast ratio and allows you to adjust your colors until they meet the required guidelines. This makes it easier to create content that is both attractive and accessible.

There is no single color combination that works for everyone. People experience color differently. Some need high contrast to read clearly, while others prefer softer tones to avoid eye strain.

Instead of choosing colors, consider using your platform's default styles or themes. If your system allows custom themes, that is even better. This approach lets users apply their own preferences (e.g., dark mode, high contrast setting) while keeping your content readable and visually consistent.

This is a simple and effective way to make your design work for everyone.

Some users rely on color filters or custom display settings to reduce eye strain or accommodate visual impairments. This means:

• They may not see the colors you selected.
• They could miss important information if it is only communicated through color.

For example, if you write, "All required questions are in red," someone using a color filter may not be able to identify which questions are required. A better approach is to include a label such as "(Required)" or use an asterisk (*) with a clear explanation.

By combining color with text labels or symbols, you ensure that your message is clear to everyone, regardless of how they view your content.

Too many colors can be overwhelming.

It can be distracting and confusing.

Where possible, use white space (or any plain color background) to give your content room to stand out.

Light gray text on a dark gray background (or vice versa) is usually easier to read.

For example:

• Red and black
• Blue and green (especially Texas A&M–Corpus Christi's shades)
• Bright or complementary colors that clash (e.g., red and green)

If colors do not contrast well, add outlines or shadows to help the text pop.

If you are placing text over an image or pattern:

• Try increasing the font size or thickness.
• If it is still hard to read, use a solid background behind the text or fade the image into a solid background color.

There are several tools available that can help you check whether your color choices are accessible and easy to read:

1. Grayscale mode (found in most device accessibility settings)
2. Color simulators for different types of color blindness
3. Color contrast checkers to assess if the combination meets minimum color ratio requirements

The first two options require you to personally assess the difficulty seeing or understanding the text. The color contrast checkers are the most exact. These tools use mathematical formulas to calculate the contrast ratio and compare it to accessibility standards.

Here are the minimum contrast ratios required:

• Normal text: At least 4.5 to 1
• Large text (18-point or 14-point bold): At least 3 to 1

You do not need to do the math yourself. Most contrast checkers will calculate it for you and often allow you to adjust the colors until they meet the required standards.

Using different colors across the page is not a color combination. A combination is picking one color for the text (or an icon) and the other for the background of the text. These are examples of bad color combinations:

• Red and black
• Blue and green (especially TAMU-CC's Islander Blue and Green)
• Bright or clashing complementary colors
  • red and green
  • orange and blue
  • yellow and purple
• Low contrast combos like light gray on white

Stick to one color for consistency and readability. Switching colors back-and-forth across the screen (e.g., red letter, green letter, then red letter again) is also painful to read. 

You are encouraged to use TAMU-CC's Islander Blue and Islander Green. These colors are bold, beautiful, and meaningful to the university culture. They reflect the university's identity and spirit, and they help create a consistent and recognizable brand.

However, it is important to use these colors in ways that support accessibility. For example, placing blue text on a green background (or green text on a blue background) can cause problems. These two colors are very similar in brightness and hue, which makes them difficult to distinguish for people with color blindness or those using color filters. In some cases, the text may become invisible.

What you can do:

• Use blue and green in different parts of the design (e.g., headers, borders, icons)
• Pair them with neutral backgrounds like white, light gray, or dark gray
• Make sure text always has strong contrast with its background

The goal is to make your content legible for everyone. If the text is hard to read, the message may be lost, no matter how well it aligns with the university's branding.

Not always. If an element is purely decorative and does not convey information or serve a functional purpose, it does not need to meet contrast requirements. However, if it affects readability or user interaction (e.g., button or icon) it must meet the required contrast ratio.

You can, but it is important to ensure that the text remains readable. Use overlays, solid backgrounds, or fade effects to improve contrast. Avoid placing text directly over busy or high-contrast images.