Just hit 100 passes on my new site's color palette

I was checking the contrast ratios for all my text and button combos, and my little counter hit 100. I honestly thought I'd get maybe 20 done before I got bored. It mattered because I kept finding these tiny fails, like a #888 gray on a white background that looked fine to me but failed the test. I did it over the last three nights after work. Has anyone else had a color that looked totally readable to them but the checker said no?

3 comments

3 Comments

robinmason2mo ago

Ever notice how a color that looks fine on your big monitor is a blurry mess on a cheap phone in sunlight? I had a dark blue button on a navy background that looked sharp to me, but the test said it failed. My buddy with older eyes couldn't read it at all on his phone outside. Makes you wonder who we're really designing for.

barbara4291mo ago

Ran into this exact problem on a client site last year. Started bringing my oldest tablet and a cheap prepaid phone to check contrast in real light. Totally agree with @gibson.nathan about testing in harsh conditions. Now I just avoid dark on dark combos completely, even if they look cool in my office. A light gray or white outline can sometimes save a design if you really need those colors. It's not about us, it's about making sure the person on the bus in the sun can actually use the thing.

gibson.nathan2mo ago

Design tests should happen on a cracked phone in a parking lot at noon.