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What contrast should a footnote text keep so dark ink stays apart from pale grey at 5 to 1?

A footnote text fails when dark ink and pale grey sit too close in lightness, even if the hues differ. Aim for about 5 to 1 between text and the ground, and a clear step between neighboring series. The palettes page shows sets built for that, and the studio is where you apply one set instead of picking colors one by one.

At a glance

Lightness before hueTwo series in a footnote text can share a hue family if their lightness…
Palettes before the canvasOpen palettes, pick a set that already separates dark ink from pale grey,…
Grey for the quiet seriesIf the footnote text has one series that is only context, paint it grey and…
Twelve hues is a warning — ink-vs-pale-footnoteA categorical footnote text that needs more colors than you can name will not…

Pick the palette before you open the studio. For a footnote text, keep text near 5 to 1 against the ground and keep dark ink clearly lighter or darker than pale grey. A rainbow that fails that step will still fail after you add a legend.

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Pick the palette before you open the studio. For a footnote text, keep text near 5 to 1 against the ground and keep dark ink clearly lighter or darker than pale grey. A rainbow that fails that step will still fail after you add a legend.

Lightness before hue

Two series in a footnote text can share a hue family if their lightness differs. dark ink against pale grey at about 5 to 1 is easier to see on a projector than a pair of bright colors with the same weight.

Palettes before the canvas

Open palettes, pick a set that already separates dark ink from pale grey, then carry it into the studio. Building the footnote text with ad-hoc clicks rarely hits 5 to 1 on every label.

Grey for the quiet series

If the footnote text has one series that is only context, paint it grey and keep the highlight for dark ink. Do not spend the 5 to 1 step on two categories that are both shouting.

Twelve hues is a warning — ink-vs-pale-footnote

A categorical footnote text that needs more colors than you can name will not hold 5 to 1 between neighbors. Split it or switch form before the studio. The palette is not a rainbow picker.

This page is a contrast check for a footnote text near 5 to 1. It does not recolor the studio for you and it does not replace a full accessibility audit.

Questions

Is 5 to 1 a studio setting for the footnote text?
Treat it as a check you do with the palette, not as a slider that fixes a bad pair. If dark ink and pale grey still blend, change the set before you draw the footnote text.
Will a color-blind viewer read the footnote text?
Only if the palette does not rely on red versus green alone. A lightness step near 5 to 1, plus a direct label, carries the footnote text when hue fails.
Should the studio invent colors for the footnote text?
No. Bring a palette that already separates dark ink from pale grey. The studio applies it. Random picks will miss 5 to 1 on a projector.

Compare palettes · Open the studio

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