Fixing text contrast

Everybody should be able to read the text

Sharing presentations and documents with participants can give them valuable material to review and study. It is important that the text can be seen and is legible. If you want your participants to study it, they must be able to read it.

Ally's contrast check will verify if there is enough colour contrast between the text and the background. Text with bad contrast can difficult for everybody to read, but especially difficult for participants with impaired vision or colour blindness.

Ally uses the contrast requirements that are specified in the WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines Links to an external site.

Fix this problem in the programs you use to edit your presentations or documents and upload a new file when you are done. Click on the Accessibility score indicator to find out how to do this. Click on What this means for further explanation.

Fixing the contrast in your file

If the text has poor contrast you need to fix this in the program you use to edit your presentations or documents. Upload the newly edited file to Ally when you are done. Click on How to add descriptions for instructions on how to do this.

  1. Click on How to add descriptions and follow the instructions
  2. Open the file on your computer
    If you don't have a copy of the file on your computer, close the teacher feedback panel and download the file from your course.
  3. Edit the texts contrast
    Microsoft® Office: First select the text you wish to edit, Open the Font Colour menu and choose a new colour with more contrast.
    LibreOffice: Select an image, and then select Format in the menu bar and go to Description. Add a description to the text.
  4. Save the file.
  5. Upload the updated file to your course.

    If you still have the instructions open in the teacher feedback panel, select Next and Browse to upload your file. If you do not have the teacher feedback panel open, select the Accessibility score indicator next to the file in your course and then Browse to upload your file.

 

The best methods for text contrast

There are many simple adjustments you can make to improve your texts readability.

  • Use fonts with wide character strokes.
  • The font size should not be smaller than 12. If you use a font style with thin character strokes the font size should not be smaller than 16.
  • Only use fonts with thin character strokes on dark backgrounds
  • Use light text on dark backgrounds
  • Use dark text on light backgrounds
  • Avoid using the following colour combinations:
    Green and red
    Green and brown
    Blue and purple
    Green and blue
    Light green and yellow
    Blue and grey
    Green and grey
    Green and black

 

Why is text contrast important?

Text with low contrast can be hard to read in many situations.

  • When using a projector in class
  • For students with colour blindness
  • On a mobile with a bright light or glare on the screen
  • On screens with poor quality

Poor contrast can lead to eye strain, make course content difficult to read and navigate in, and cause frustration.

Good contrast means that everyone can see the text clearly and get a better overall experience while reading the content.