Color Contrast Analyzer 2.2 – updated contrast ratio

The English version of the Color Contrast Analyzer and the German, French, Czech, and Italian versions for Windows have been updated, MACÂ version all languages updated, to reflect the change in the ratio at which color combinations are deemed to meet the contrast ratio criteria in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0:

Guideline 1.4 Distinguishable: Make it easier for users to see and hear content including separating foreground from background. WCAG 2.0

Guideline 1.4.3: Contrast (Minimum)- WCAG 2 The visual presentation of text and images of text has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1, except for the following:

  • Large Text: Large-scale text and images of large-scale text have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1;
  • Incidental: Text or images of text that are part of an inactive user interface component, that are pure decoration, that are not visible to anyone, or that are part of a picture that contains significant other visual content, have no contrast requirement.
  • Logotypes: Text that is part of a logo or brand name has no minimum contrast requirement. (Level AA)

Guideline 1.4.6: Contrast (Enhanced) – WCAG 2 The visual presentation of text and images of text has a contrast ratio of at least 7:1, except for the following: (Level AAA)

  • Large Text: Large-scale text and images of large-scale text have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1;
  • Incidental: Text or images of text that are part of an inactive user interface component, that are pure decoration, that are not visible to Logotypes: Text that is part of a logo or brand name has no minimum contrast requirement.

Related Resources:

Categories: Technical
Tags:

About Steve Faulkner

Steve was the Chief Accessibility Officer at TPGi before he left in October 2023. He joined TPGi in 2006 and was previously a Senior Web Accessibility Consultant at vision australia. Steve is a member of several groups, including the W3C Web Platforms Working Group and the W3C ARIA Working Group. He is an editor of several specifications at the W3C including ARIA in HTML and HTML Accessibility API Mappings 1.0. He also develops and maintains HTML5accessibility and the JAWS bug tracker/standards support.