Color Blindness Simulator
About Color Blindness Simulation
Color blindness, or color vision deficiency, affects how people perceive colors. It impacts roughly 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women globally. This tool simulates eight types of color vision deficiencies, helping designers and developers create accessible UIs. By testing with these simulations, you ensure your designs are inclusive and meet WCAG accessibility standards, avoiding reliance on color alone to convey information.
How to Use This Tool
- Upload your image by clicking or dragging it into the upload area.
- Choose a simulation mode from the dropdown to see how your design appears under different vision types.
- Observe the changes instantly in the preview below.
- Download the result as a PNG to share or include in design reviews.
What Is the Color Blindness Simulator Tool?
The Color Blindness Simulator Tool is an essential accessibility testing utility that allows you to see how your designs appear to people with different types of color vision deficiencies. It solves the critical problem of color accessibility by simulating various forms of color blindness, helping you create inclusive designs that work for everyone.
This tool uses scientifically-verified color transformation algorithms to accurately simulate how people with protanopia, deuteranopia, tritanopia, and other color vision deficiencies perceive your colors, interfaces, and designs. By understanding these perspectives, you can identify and fix accessibility issues before they affect your users.
Why Test for Color Blindness Accessibility?
8% of Men Affected
Approximately 1 in 12 men (8%) and 1 in 200 women (0.5%) have some form of color vision deficiency. That's over 300 million people worldwide who experience colors differently.
Legal Requirements
Many countries require digital accessibility compliance (ADA, Section 508, WCAG). Testing for color blindness is essential for meeting these legal standards.
Better User Experience
Inclusive design creates better experiences for ALL users, not just those with color vision deficiencies. Clear, accessible designs benefit everyone.
Business Impact
Accessible designs reach wider audiences, improve customer satisfaction, and reduce legal risks. They're simply good business practice.
Ethical Design
Creating inclusive digital experiences is the right thing to do. Everyone deserves equal access to information and digital services.
Early Detection
Catch accessibility issues early in the design process when they're easier and cheaper to fix, rather than after development is complete.
Types of Color Vision Deficiencies Simulated
Protanopia
Red-Green Color Blindness (L-cone missing)
Cannot perceive red light. Reds appear as black or dark gray. Greens, oranges, and some browns may appear similar.
Normal Vision
Protanopia View
Deuteranopia
Red-Green Color Blindness (M-cone missing)
Cannot perceive green light. Greens appear beige or brown. Reds may appear brownish-yellow.
Normal Vision
Deuteranopia View
Tritanopia
Blue-Yellow Color Blindness
Cannot distinguish between blue and green, purple and red, and yellow and pink. Blues appear greenish.
Normal Vision
Tritanopia View
Achromatopsia
Complete Color Blindness
Sees only in shades of gray. Very rare (approximately 1 in 30,000 people). Also includes light sensitivity.
Normal Vision
Achromatopsia View
How to Use the Color Blindness Simulator
Upload or Enter Colors
Upload screenshots, website URLs, or individual images. Alternatively, enter specific color values to test color combinations.
💡 Test complete interfaces, not just individual colors
Select Deficiency Type
Choose which type of color vision deficiency to simulate: Protanopia, Deuteranopia, Tritanopia, or Achromatopsia.
Test multiple types to ensure comprehensive accessibility
Analyze Results
View side-by-side comparisons of normal vision vs. simulated vision. Identify problematic color combinations and contrast issues.
Look for information that becomes unclear or indistinguishable
Implement Fixes
Use our suggestions to improve accessibility: increase contrast, add patterns/textures, or use additional visual cues beyond color.
Never rely on color alone to convey information
Best Practices for Color-Blind Friendly Design
Use High Contrast
Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background colors (minimum 4.5:1 for normal text). High contrast helps all users, especially those with color vision deficiencies.
Add Text Labels
Always supplement color-coded information with text labels, icons, or patterns. Don't rely on color alone to convey meaning or status.
Test Color Combinations
Avoid problematic color pairs like red/green, green/brown, blue/purple, and green/blue. Test all combinations with our simulator.
Use Texture & Patterns
In charts and graphs, use different patterns (stripes, dots, cross-hatch) in addition to colors to distinguish between data series.
Provide Alternative Cues
Use shapes, icons, borders, or positioning differences to supplement color distinctions in interfaces and data visualizations.
Consider Monochrome First
Design in grayscale first to ensure your layout and information hierarchy work without color, then add color for enhancement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate are the simulations?
Our simulations use scientifically-verified color transformation algorithms based on research into human color vision deficiencies. While individual experiences may vary, our simulations provide accurate representations of how most people with each type of color blindness perceive colors. The algorithms are based on established color vision deficiency models used in accessibility research.
Should I test for all types of color blindness?
For comprehensive accessibility testing, yes. While red-green deficiencies (protanopia and deuteranopia) are most common, testing for blue-yellow deficiencies (tritanopia) and complete color blindness (achromatopsia) ensures your designs work for all users. Our tool makes it easy to test all major types with a single click.
What are the most problematic color combinations?
The most problematic combinations are: Red & Green (indistinguishable for many), Green & Brown (similar brightness), Blue & Purple (hard to distinguish), Green & Blue (similar hues), Pink & Gray (low contrast), and Light Green & Yellow. Always test these combinations specifically with our simulator.
Can color blindness be "fixed" or cured?
Most color vision deficiencies are genetic and permanent. While special glasses (like EnChroma) can enhance certain color distinctions for some people, they don't "cure" color blindness. As designers and developers, our responsibility is to create accessible designs that work for people with their natural vision.
Are there tools to help color-blind users?
Yes, there are browser extensions and operating system settings that can help, but as designers we shouldn't rely on users having these tools installed. It's our responsibility to create natively accessible designs. Some helpful tools include color-blind modes in browsers, screen filters, and color-naming extensions that identify colors on screen.
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