[WEB4LIB] Re: Web page color & accessibility

[Patricia F Anderson]

Perhaps a bigger issue? I have found that many web pages with white text
are unprintable. The text will not print. Some browsers allow the user to
set this so white text prints black, but not all browsers. Sometimes when
the user sets this, it backfires -- as in you print black text on a maroon
background, and that is little more helpful than white on white.
Personally, I find using white text as thoughtless of the user as
squeezing images down to size with file tags, and then having them print
so they block out the text. If we are designing a web site for a very
small controlled group, where we control their browser, version, and
platform, and do not allow them access from home or other uncontrolled
environments, well, then do what you like. If you are designing for a
diverse population, then you must acknowledge that diversity, and design
responsibly for a diverse audience.

My two cents worth.

Patricia Anderson, pfa at umich.edu