Module 2: Ensuring the Contrast Ratio Between Text and Background is Sufficient

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Voice Over (VO): Accessible Electronic Document Community of Practice, AED-COP.

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VO: You are watching how to author and test Microsoft PowerPoint presentations for accessibility.

VO: This is module two, ensuring the contrast ratio between text and background is sufficient.

VO: This video is one in a series showing how to make a PowerPoint document section 508 conformant.

VO: When choosing the color palette for your slide designs, close attention must be given to ensuring that there is a strong enough color contrast between the foreground and background.

VO: People who are color blind or have low vision will only have comparable access if there is sufficient contrast between the text and the background.

VO: The color contrast standards are 4.5 to 1 for standard text, meaning text which is 12 point and regular, and 3 to 1 for large text, meaning text which is 14 point and bold, or 18 point and regular.

VO: Incidental text, text overlaid on images, and logo types are excluded from this requirement.

VO: Note, if the document text is black on white background or close to it, you do not need to perform this test.

VO: Determining the contrast between the text and background requires a color contrast analyzer, an external application which can be downloaded at http colon forward slash forward slash www.pacielogroup.com forward slash resources forward slash contrast analyzer.

VO: Create content with text or images of text that use color or shading with sufficient color contrast.

VO: You must test color contrast to ensure that it is sufficient. If the contrast ratio does not pass, then adjust your foreground and background until it does pass.

VO: Open the color contrast analyzer. Drag the foreground eyedropper icon over a sample of your text or image of text.

VO: Drag the background eyedropper icon over a sample of your background color. Have you formatted the color contrast ratio greater than 4.5 to 1 for standard text, or 3 to 1 for large text?

VO: If not, the document fails this test. Thank you for watching Module 2.

VO: You are encouraged to watch the other modules in this video series and revisit modules to gain a mastery of the information provided.

VO: To learn more about Section 508, visit www.section508.gov. This video is a product of the Accessible Electronic Document Community of Practice, Chief Information Officers Council, and the Federal Aviation Administration.