Save or load a custom soft-proof setup

Color Universal Design (CUD) ensures your graphics are clear to people with all types of color vision, including those with color blindness. Several countries require CUD-compliant graphics in public spaces.

The two most common types of color blindness are:

• Protanopia - reduced sensitivity to red
• Deuteranopia - reduced sensitivity to green

About one-third of people with color blindness have a strong form; others have milder versions. To comply with CUD standards, check your design using both proof types. RGB color mode provides the most accurate soft proofs for color blindness simulation. Convert your document to RGB before checking CUD compliance.

Check for color blindness accessibility

If objects are difficult to distinguish in either proof, adjust your design before finalizing your work.

Adjust designs for color blindness accessibility

When elements lack sufficient contrast in soft proofs, use these strategies.

Modify color choices

Adjust color brightness or hue to improve distinction:

• Replace pure red with orange-red, which appears less dark and muddy.
• Use bluish green instead of yellowish green.
• Avoid gray near magenta, pale pink, pale green, or emerald green, as these colors may be confuse.d
• Avoid these color combinations: red and green; yellow and bright green; light blue and pink; dark blue and violet.
• Avoid placing red items on dark-colored backgrounds.
• Avoid placing white items on yellow or orange-red backgrounds.

Add visual differentiation

Create distinction through non-color elements:

• Apply different patterns or shapes to adjacent areas.
• Add white, black, or dark-colored borders at color boundaries.
• Use different font families or styles to distinguish text elements.

Make design adjustments while viewing the soft-proof to see how changes improve accessibility immediately.