[WEB4LIB] Web page color & accessibility

[DCammack at Loeb.com]

John,

Since you are talking about "class," I'm assuming you are using CSS.  Why
not give the end-user choices as to what color scheme the want.  Make a
very prominent link to change the style or color of text, background, etc.
Keep it simple.  From a user standpoint, I dislike dark backgrounds with
light colored characters.  It makes it difficult to read (for me), but try
using the Microsoft Windows Accessibility settings, you might get some
examples of what works and doesn't work.  I'm sure MS did some research
prior to implementing that feature.

David Cammack
Electronic Services Librarian
Loeb & Loeb LLP
10100 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 2200
Los Angeles, CA  90067
dcammack at loeb.com
www.loeb.com
direct: 310-282-2175
fax: 310-282-2200



|---------+---------------------------->
|         |           John Creech      |
|         |           <John.Creech at cwu.|
|         |           EDU>             |
|         |           Sent by:         |
|         |           web4lib at sunsite.b|
|         |           erkeley.edu      |
|         |                            |
|         |                            |
|         |           12/03/2002 11:02 |
|         |           AM               |
|         |           Please respond to|
|         |           John.Creech      |
|         |                            |
|---------+---------------------------->
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  |        To:      Multiple recipients of list <web4lib at webjunction.org>                                     |
  |        cc:                                                                                                     |
  |        Subject: [WEB4LIB] Web page color & accessibility                                                       |
  >----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|



>From an accessibility standpoint, does anyone know of any studies or other
data that speak to setting a dark background for a class, say the color
maroon, and then setting font color to white? I'm aware of the dangers of
setting colors without enough contrast betwen background and font color,
but are there problems with the above example where the white text would
clearly stand out against the dark background?  Thanks.

John Creech
Electronic Resources & Systems Librarian
Central Washington University Library
400 E. 8th Ave. | Ellensburg, WA 98926 |
office - 509.963.1081 || fax - 509.963.3684
creechj at www.lib.cwu.edu







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