Colors are visible |
Section 508 1194.22(c); WAI / WCAG 1.0 checkpoint 2.2
Issue Description The page uses some colors; there might be cases where the contrast between foreground and background colors is not sufficient to differentiate them.
How to check Make sure colors and colored items on the page can be clearly differentiated in all the possible contexts in which users may be viewing the page. Make sure the contrast between foreground and background items is conveyed by other means than color, such as different font styles, font sizes, or font faces.

Here are easy ways to test the page:

- View the page on a black and white screen and go through each of its elements
- Print the page on a black and white printer
- Take the printout and copy it two or three times to see how it degrades. This will show you where you need to add redundant cues (like underlying links) or whether the cues are too small or indistinct to hold up well

Issue Explanation There are many situations where a bad choice of colors by the designer hinders perception and comprehension of some information or image on a page. They include:

- Bad choice of background/foreground colors
- The user uses a screen incapable of rendering colors with the same quality as the one used by the page designer
- The user is accessing the page through a black and white PDA or cell phone
- The user needs to print the page on a black and while printer
- The user is color-blind