Color contrast plays a key role in readability and accessibility. To meet current standards, always use approved combinations and pay close attention when using reverse type (light text on dark backgrounds) or text overlays on images.
UMB is required to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standard. The AAA standard is not mandatory, but is a good practice to follow. Use the guide below to identify approved color and background combinations that meet contrast requirements. A contrast ratio of 4.5:1 or higher is considered compliant for most text.
According to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines:
- Level AA compliance requires:
- A minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text
- A minimum contrast ratio of 3:1 for large text
- Level AAA compliance requires:
- A minimum contrast ratio of 7:1 for normal text
- A minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for large text
Large text is defined as 14 point (≈18.66px) and bold or larger, or 18 point (≈24px) or larger.
Check Any Colors
To check the contrast of colors outside of UMB's official brand palette, use an external tool such as the WebAim Contrast Checker or the TPGI Color Contrast Analyzer.
- WebAim Contrast Checker is a browser-based testing tool. Enter the foreground and background colors using HEX code, RGB values, or use an eyedropper to pick a color from another browser window or application.
- TPGI Color Contrast Analyzer is a downloadable application for Windows or Mac that can sit above your web browser or other application.
Check UMB Brand Colors
There are three primary colors that make up the University of Maryland, Baltimore logo and there are nine colors that make up the secondary color palette. Learn more about UMB's brand colors.
Note: Our color contrast guide includes both true black (#000000) and the UMB black (#2c2a29) used in the UMB logo, ensuring flexibility while maintaining accessibility compliance across all digital applications.