Ally 2. The document has contrast issues (Major)

Assess

Some documents include text that lacks sufficient contrast with the background, making it hard to read.

What is color contrast?

Color contrast refers to the visual difference in brightness and color between text and its background. Adequate contrast is essential for readability.
You can still use colors and shading—just ensure there’s enough contrast to keep the text legible.

Insight

Why is having proper contrast important? Without it, this can cause the text to be difficult to read, especially for those with low vision, poor eyesight or color blindness.

Why use sufficient contrast:

Improves readability – Text with low contrast can be hard to read for anyone, especially when displayed on a projector or in bright environments.
Supports vision accessibility – Many people experience color vision deficiencies. In fact, about 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women are affected. Proper contrast ensures they can read the content.
Adapts to different screens and lighting – Text that looks fine on one screen may be unreadable on another, especially under glare or on older monitors.

Modify

Go to the Accessibility Report from the course navigation menu.
Scroll to the list of issues and click on “The document has contrast issues.”
A list of affected documents will appear. Click the Fuel Gauge/Score icon next to the document you want to fix. This opens a new tab.
Follow the steps provided by Ally:
1. Download the original document.
2. Use the guidance from Ally and from the section "A.I.M. for Accessibility in Mind" below, to adjust the contrast in the document.
3. Save your changes as a new version.
4. Upload the updated document back into Canvas Ally to replace the original.

A.I.M for Accessibility In Mind...

What to Do:

Prioritize readability – Use high-contrast color combinations such as:
- Black on white
- Navy on light gray
- Dark green on pale yellow
Use multiple cues – Combine color with text labels, icons, or formatting (e.g., bold or underline) to convey meaning.
Maintain clarity in visuals – When placing text over images or backgrounds, use solid overlays or text boxes to ensure the text remains legible.
Apply consistently – Use these contrast principles across all formats: Word documents, PDFs, PowerPoint slides, and LMS content.

What to Avoid:

Avoid low-contrast combinations – Such as light gray on white, yellow on white, or red on black.
Don’t rely on color alone – Avoid using color as the only way to indicate meaning (e.g., red text for errors without explanation).
Avoid busy backgrounds – Don’t place text directly over complex or colorful images without a solid background.

Additional Support

Anthology Help Center- Fix Text Contrast