A Trusted Web Color Reference Since 1998
Everything you need to work with color on the web
Learn color theory, explore interactive tools, check WCAG compliance, and browse trusted web color references—all in one place. Free contrast tools and clear accessibility guidance, trusted by business owners, designers, and government agencies for nearly 30 years.
NEWS:
ADA Title II web accessibility deadlines extended — April 2027 for large jurisdictions · April 2028 for smaller entities
Color tools
Professional tools for better web color
From contrast analysis to palette generation and color theory, these interactive tools help you design with confidence and build more accessible websites.
Contrast Analyzer
Unsure if the color combination you are considering has enough contrast? Check WCAG 2.1 contrast ratios for AA and AAA compliance. Get AI-powered suggestions when colors fail.
Color Wizard
The color Wizard will generate matching colors schemes from any base color. Explore complementary, split complementary and analogous colors, chromatic variations and shade and tint variations.
Color Wheel
Observe color relationships visually on a color wheel. Select any hue and instantly see complementary, analogous, triadic, tetradic and split-complementary harmonies mapped out with connecting lines.
Wavelength Tool
Curious what color a specific wavelength of light produces? Enter a value in nanometers and see the corresponding visible color, from 380nm violet to 700nm red - the physics of color made visual.
ADA compliance
Compliance depends on who you are
Government sites face hard deadlines. Businesses face lawsuits. Either way, WCAG 2.1 AA is the standard — and we can help you meet it.
Government websites
State and local government sites must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA under ADA Title II. The deadlines are firm: April 2027 for populations of 50,000+, April 2028 for smaller entities. Missing them means risking DOJ enforcement and private lawsuits.
Deadlines
April 2027
50,000 + population
April 2028
Smaller entities
Business websites
Private businesses have no deadline, but face thousands of ADA lawsuits and demand letters every year under Title III. Courts use WCAG 2.1 AA as the benchmark. A single inaccessible site can mean a costly settlement.
Thousands of lawsuits
filed under Title III every year
Color contrast is the most common WCAG failure — and the easiest to check. But full ADA compliance covers much more: keyboard access, screen-reader support, form labels, and dozens of other criteria. Our contrast tools are your starting point. Need the full picture? Our ADA audit services cover everything else.
Color Theory
Understanding Color
Learn the science, language, and practical principles behind color — from light and perception to contrast, harmony, and accessible design.
Color terms
Learn the essential language of color — hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, temperature, tints, shades, and tones. This is the foundation for understanding how color works in design, accessibility, and web interfaces.
Combining colors
Understand complementary, analogous, triadic, and split-complementary color schemes — and how they create harmony.
Color contrast
Learn why contrast matters, how readability works, and how color choices affect accessible design.
Color physics
Explore how light, wavelengths, and screens work together to create the colors we see.
Meaning of colors
See how colors can communicate emotion, mood, and meaning across design contexts.