Frequently asked questions
What ColorContract does, what it does not, and why.
- Does ColorContract change my brand color?
- No. It is locked. If it cannot meet an accessible combination, the tool suggests a variant for that specific use and shows you where it applies; the brand itself stays intact.
- Which contrast standard is used?
- WCAG 2.2, the current reference: relative luminance ratio (L1 + 0.05) / (L2 + 0.05). AA is applied by default (4.5:1 for text, 3:1 for controls and focus); AAA is available as an option (7:1 for text).
- Why not APCA?
- APCA was removed from the WCAG 3 drafts in 2023, is still in public beta, and its license limits use outside the W3C. ColorContract therefore sticks to WCAG 2.2, the standard required today.
- Why is 4.49:1 a failure?
- Ratios are truncated, never rounded up. Some tools show 4.48 or 4.5 for a color that does not actually reach 4.5:1; ColorContract shows 4.47:1 for #777777 on white, and counts it as a failure.
- Is dark mode a simple inversion?
- No. Each role points to different steps in dark mode, every combination is checked in both modes, and targets are raised in dark mode (text never pure white, lower surfaces).
- Which formats can I export?
- DTCG (W3C Design Tokens), Figma Variables, Tokens Studio, Style Dictionary and CSS variables. Light and dark are in the same file, with the accessible combinations, justified exceptions and the algorithm version.
- Are my colors sent to a server?
- No. There is no account and no database: the project is encoded in the page address. Sharing a project means copying its link.
- Can I add more hues?
- Yes: by hand, by importing a list of colors, or by arrangement from the brand (analogous, complementary, split complementary, triadic, tetradic). Added hues are matched to the brand, and nothing else moves.
- How are my tokens named?
- Roles are fixed, but their names are configurable: segment order, separator, or the Atlassian, IBM Carbon, Material or Shopify Polaris template. The export keeps each role's canonical identifier next to the chosen name.
- Is color-blindness simulation a requirement?
- No, it is advice. WCAG mainly asks that information is never conveyed by color alone (success criterion 1.4.1); the export reminds you.
- How do I reopen a project?
- Open its link. The address contains the whole project; keep it in your bookmarks or your documentation.