Secondary Colors: Color Contrast

Requirements

We are required to pass WCAG AA at a minimum.

Color contrast is very important regarding accessibility. To be most accessible, we want to pass WCAG AAA.

According to WebAIM: “WCAG 2.0 level AA requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. WCAG 2.1 requires a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 for graphics and user interface components (such as form input borders). WCAG Level AAA requires a contrast ratio of at least 7:1 for normal text and 4.5:1 for large text.”

Sometimes if a color does not pass at normal text size, it will pass in a larger size text. According to WebAIM: “Large text is defined as 14 point (typically 18.66px) and bold or larger, or 18 point (typically 24px) or larger.”

Color Checker: https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker

Below you will find color combinations of our brand colors that are passing (and at which level) and those that are not passing. Please keep these in mind when designing for digital assets.

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Pass WCAG AAA

These pass WCAG AAA for regular and large text sizes.

white text, purple background
semiviolet text, purple background
purple text, pale blue background
semiviolet background, black text
semiviolet background, purple text
orbit text, semiviolet background
pale blue background, black text
pale blue background, purple text
pale blue background, orbit text
black background, semiviolet text
black background, pale blue text
orbit background, semiviolet text
pale blue text on orbit background
purple text, white background

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Pass WCAG AA

When using regular text sizes (not large text size), these colors pass at WCAG AA. They pass at WCAG AAA if you use large text size.

purple background, martian text
purple background, helios text
purple background, bay text
ultraviolet text on purple background
martian background, purple text
martian background, orbit text
helios background, purple text
bay background, purple text
ultraviolet background with purple text
orbit background, martian text

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Large Text Size

These color combinations MUST have a large text size when used in order to pass the color contrast test. This will pass WCAG AA.

martian background, orlando text
orlando background, martian text

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Not Passing

Here are some examples of combinations that do NOT pass any of the color tests:

martian on white
pale blue on white background
semiviolet on white background
martian background, flare text
flare background, martian text
pale blue text, flare background
flare background, semiviolet text
pale blue background, flare text
semiviolet background, flare text

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View By Color

Semiviolet

Semiviolet Background

semiviolet background and purple text
semiviolet background orbit text
semiviolet background black text

Semiviolet Text

Purple background semiviolet text
orbit background semiviolet text
black background semiviolet text

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Pale Blue

Pale Blue Background

pale blue background, purple text
Pale blue background, orbit text
pale blue background, black text

Pale Blue Text

Pale blue text on purple background
orbit background, pale blue text
black background, pale blue text

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Cosmic Purple

Cosmic Purple Background

purple background, white text
purple background, martian (lime) text
pale blue text on purple background
semiviolet text, purple background
purple background, helios text
purple background, ultraviolet text
purple background, bay text

Cosmic Purple Text

white background, cosmic purple text
martian (lime) background, purple text
pale blue background, purple text
semiviolet background, purple text
helios background, purple text
ultraviolet background, purple text
bay background, purple text

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Martian

Martian Background

martian (lime) background, purple text
martian background, orbit text
martian background, black text
Martian background, orlando text

Martian Text

purple background, martian (lime) text
orbit background, martian text
black background, martian text
Orlando background, martian text

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