Color Blind Friendly Color Picker
Use our color blind color picker to see how any color appears to people with color vision deficiency. Get accessible alternatives with verified WCAG contrast that work for everyone.
Pick Your Color
HSL: 217°, 91%, 60%
Text Contrast Preview
How readable is your color as text on white and black backgrounds?
Sample Text on White
Sample Text on Black
Need more contrast options? Try our WCAG Contrast Checker
How Others See It
This is how your selected color appears to people with different types of color vision:
Normal Vision
Protanopia
(Red-Blind)
Deuteranopia
(Green-Blind)
Tritanopia
(Blue-Blind)
These simulations use the same scientifically validated algorithms as our Color Blindness Simulator
Color-Blind Safe Alternatives
These colors are distinct across all color vision types and meet WCAG AA contrast requirements:
RGB(13, 64, 165) • HSL(220°, 85%, 35%)
Deep blue — visible to all CVD types
RGB(21, 121, 121) • HSL(180°, 70%, 28%)
Dark teal — safe for red-green CVD
RGB(199, 86, 5) • HSL(25°, 95%, 40%)
Rich orange — works for blue-blind users
Want to build a complete palette? Try our Color Blind Palette Generator
What Makes a Color "Color-Blind Safe"?
A color is considered color-blind safe when it remains distinguishable for people with all types of color vision deficiency. About 8% of men and 0.5% of women have some form of color blindness, most commonly affecting red and green perception. Our color blind color picker helps you identify these issues instantly.
The challenge? Colors that look completely different to you might appear nearly identical to someone with color blindness. Red and green can blend together. Yellow and blue can become confusing. This color blind color picker shows you these problems before your users encounter them.
Quick Tips for Accessible Colors
- • Blues are your friend — They're visible to almost everyone
- • Avoid red/green combinations — These fail for 95% of color blind users
- • Use brightness differences — Light vs. dark works even without color
- • Never rely on color alone — Add icons, patterns, or labels
Why Some Colors Fail for Certain Vision Types
Color blindness happens when the cone cells in your eyes that detect certain colors don't work normally. Here's what each type affects:
- Protanopia (Red-Blind): Red looks dim or dark. Red and green can look similar. Reds may appear brown or olive.
- Deuteranopia (Green-Blind): Green looks muted. Greens and reds can blend together. This is the most common type.
- Tritanopia (Blue-Blind): Blue appears greenish. Yellow and blue can be confused. This is rare but important to consider.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate are the color blindness simulations?
Our simulations use the same peer-reviewed algorithms (Viénot, Brettel, Machado) used by professional accessibility tools. While no simulation is perfect—everyone's color vision is slightly different—these provide an excellent approximation of how colors appear to people with color vision deficiency.
What's the safest color for all types of color blindness?
Blue is generally the safest primary color since it's visible to most people with color vision deficiency. For contrast, pair it with orange or yellow. However, the best approach is always to use multiple visual cues—not just color—to convey important information.
Do I need WCAG compliance if I test for color blindness?
Yes! Color blindness testing and WCAG contrast requirements are complementary, not interchangeable. WCAG ensures text is readable for people with low vision, while color blindness testing ensures colors are distinguishable. You need both for truly accessible design.
Can I use this tool for data visualization?
Absolutely! This is one of the most important uses. Charts and graphs that rely on color coding often fail for color blind users. Test each color in your legend to ensure they remain distinct across all vision types.