Guides / 08—08
Make a color review sheet before publishing
Record each color pair, its purpose, calculated result and visual review in one place.
Inventory real pairs
List body text and surface, links, button labels, error messages, input boundaries, meaningful icons and focus indicators. Keep HEX values and actual rendered text size. Do not test only two brand colors.
Calculate, then inspect
Use the contrast checker for solid pairs. Decide with the unrounded ratio; then inspect the design at actual size, on small screens, at zoom and in different lighting. For photos or gradients, sample the background under every part of the text.
Keep decisions and revisions
Write down failing pairs, the chosen fix and the date. Recheck after changing color, text size, stroke weight or background. A short repeatable sheet is more useful than one score without context.
References
Read nextRead HEX codes and RGB channels ↗