Back when I used to guess my contrast ratios by eye alone

Before I learned about WCAG standards in 2019, I'd just pick two colors that looked fine on my monitor and call it a day, even for body text on a client's e-commerce site. Then a user with low vision emailed me saying they couldn't read the product descriptions at all, which got me to finally buy a proper contrast checker tool for $20. Is there anyone else who still relies on eyeballing it for certain projects, or am I just old school?

3 comments

3 Comments

simon_chen6d ago

Eyeballing it works fine for your own monitor but that user's experience proves why that's not enough. Even a cheap color picker with contrast ratios built in beats guessing every time.

logan_schmidt6d ago

The whole point of accessibility standards is consistency, and eyeballing just can't provide that across different screens and lighting conditions. A simple tool takes the guesswork out and makes sure you're covering everyone from the start rather than hoping for the best. Once you get used to checking contrast ratios with a tool, it becomes second nature and saves headaches later.

diana554d ago

Well, colorblind folks might struggle with those tools too though, right?