The Most Difficult Color Combination to Read, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the color combination you think is the most difficult!
Updated on May 5, 2024 06:23
Designing visuals for clarity and comfort often hinges on the right choice of color combinations. However, some color pairings can cause strain or make content nearly unreadable, leading to frustration and accessibility issues for many. Recognizing these combinations is vital to creating better, more inclusive designs.
By voting on the most challenging color combinations to read, users contribute to a broader understanding and help inform better design practices. This live ranking not only highlights problematic pairings but also serves as a resource for designers, educators, and anyone interested in visual accessibility.
What Is the Most Difficult Color Combination to Read?
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158votesThis combination is difficult for people with color blindness, as they may not be able to distinguish between the two colors.The red and green color combination is considered one of the most challenging combinations to read, especially for individuals with color vision deficiencies such as red-green colorblindness. It is characterized by the juxtaposition of red and green hues, resulting in low contrast and poor readability for some users.
- Contrast Ratio: Insufficient contrast, typically below the recommended 4.5:1 ratio for readability.
- Accessibility: May not meet the WCAG 2.0 accessibility guidelines for color contrast.
- Color Vision Deficiencies: Poses significant challenges for individuals with red-green colorblindness.
- Visual Fatigue: Prolonged exposure to the red and green combination can cause visual strain and fatigue.
- Confusion: May lead to confusion and difficulty distinguishing between elements.
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230votesThis combination can cause eye strain and make it difficult to read text.Yellow and Green is a vibrant color combination commonly associated with schools, particularly in Brazil and some countries in Europe. It is characterized by the combination of bright yellow and refreshing green tones, which create a visually appealing and energetic color scheme. This color combination is often chosen to represent schools due to its positive and stimulating qualities.
- Primary Colors: Yellow, Green
- Symbolism: Energetic, vibrant, positive
- Association: Commonly used by schools
- Geographical Usage: Brazil, some European countries
- Usage Frequency: Among the most popular school colors
Yellow and Green in other rankings- Position 10 of 10 in Most popular school colors
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313votes
Gabriela Ruellan · CC0This combination can be difficult to read for people with color blindness, as they may not be able to distinguish between the two colors.Purple and Red is a color combination that is widely considered to be one of the most difficult to read. This combination involves using shades of purple and red together, creating low contrast and visual strain for users.- Contrast Ratio: Low
- Color Harmony: Poor
- Legibility: Challenging
- Eye Strain: High
- Accessibility: Limited
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412votes
Averette · CC BY 3.0This combination can be difficult to read for people with color blindness, as they may not be able to distinguish between the two colors.The 'Blue and Green' color combination is known to be one of the most difficult to read. When these colors are used together, it can result in poor contrast and readability, causing strain and discomfort for users.- Low Contrast: The difference in brightness and hue between blue and green can be quite subtle, resulting in low contrast.
- Colorblindness: People with certain types of color vision deficiencies, particularly red-green colorblindness, may find it challenging to distinguish between blue and green.
- Fatigue: Extended exposure to this color combination can cause visual fatigue and make reading content more difficult.
- Visual Distortion: In some cases, the overlay of blue and green colors can create visual distortion, such as color fringing or blending.
- Background Dependency: The readability of blue and green is highly dependent on the background color they are placed on. Certain background colors can exacerbate the difficulty of reading this combination.
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519votesThis combination can be difficult to read for people with color blindness, as they may not be able to distinguish between the two colors.Orange and Yellow is a challenging color combination to read due to its high saturation levels and lack of contrast. The strong intensity of the two colors can cause eye strain and make it difficult to distinguish between different elements.
- Saturation levels: High
- Contrast: Low
- Visibility: Poor
- Readability: Difficult
- Eye strain: High
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612votesThis combination can be difficult to read for people with color blindness, as they may not be able to distinguish between the two colors.The color combination of Pink and Red is considered one of the most difficult to read. When these two vibrant colors are used together, they create a high contrast and clash that can strain the eyes and make it challenging to distinguish between text and background elements.
- Contrast: High
- Visibility: Low
- Readability: Poor
- Eye Strain: High
- Color Harmony: Clashing
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711votesThis combination can cause eye strain and make it difficult to read text.Blue and Purple is a color combination that is often regarded as one of the most difficult to read. This combination poses challenges in terms of contrast and legibility, as both colors have similar wavelengths and can appear to blend together.
- Accessibility: Challenging
- Contrast Ratio: Low
- Color Similarity: High
- Legibility: Poor
- Eye Strain: Possible
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89votesThis combination can be difficult to read for people with dyslexia, as the text may appear jumbled or difficult to distinguish from the background.Red and Black is a popular school color combination that incorporates the colors red and black. It is often chosen by schools to represent their identity and pride. The contrasting colors create a bold and energetic aesthetic.
- Color Combination: Red and Black
- Meaning: Strength, power, and intensity
- Association: School pride and identity
- Usage: Most commonly used in sports teams, uniforms, and school branding
- Popularity: Widely adopted by numerous schools
Red and Black in other rankings- Position 9 of 10 in Most popular school colors
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912votesThis combination can cause eye strain and make it difficult to read text.The Green and Brown color combination is known for being one of the most difficult color combinations to read. It involves the use of green and brown colors in a design or text layout, which presents challenges in terms of readability and visual contrast.
- Lack of contrast: Green and brown have similar darkness levels, making it hard to distinguish between the two colors.
- Low color saturation: Both green and brown can have low saturation levels, resulting in a muted color scheme that lacks vibrancy.
- Similar hues: Green and brown often have similar hues, especially when using earthy tones, which can cause visual confusion.
- Color blindness challenge: Individuals with red-green color blindness may find it particularly challenging to differentiate between green and brown.
- Limited accessibility: The lack of contrast and low color saturation can make content using the green and brown combination inaccessible for people with visual impairments.
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1010votesThis combination can cause eye strain and make it difficult to read text.Yellow and White is a color combination known for its difficulty in legibility and readability. The contrast between the bright yellow color and the white background often causes strain on the eyes and can make it challenging to discern text or visual elements.
- Color Contrast Ratio: 1.00:1
- Brightness Difference: low
- Saturated Color: yellow
- Background Color: white
- Text Legibility: poor
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Discussion
Ranking factors for difficult color combination
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ContrastThe level of distinction between the foreground (text) and background colors is crucial for readability. Low contrast combinations, where the text color and background are very similar in tone, can make it difficult to discern text and may cause eye strain.
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Color BlindnessAn estimated 8% of men and 0.5% of women of Northern European descent have some form of color vision deficiency. Therefore, it's essential to consider common color blindness types, such as red-green and blue-yellow, when selecting color combinations.
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BrightnessOverly bright colors can cause discomfort and eye strain. Selecting colors with moderate brightness levels will help ensure a comfortable reading experience.
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VibrancyColors that are excessively vibrant or neon can lead to a decreased ability to focus on the text, reducing readability. Opt for more muted colors that won't overly stimulate the eyes or visually compete with the text.
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Size and FontSmall text can be difficult to read, especially when paired with challenging color combinations. Also, certain fonts may not render well in some colors and might become illegible.
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ContextThe context in which the color combination is used also matters. For example, colors that work well for a digital display may not necessarily work well in print or outdoor signage. Similarly, what might be suitable for a logo or header may not work for the main text.
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Personal Preferences and Cultural FactorsPeople's preferences and cultural backgrounds can influence their perception of color combinations. What might be appealing or easily readable for one person may not necessarily be so for another.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult color combination to read. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or color combination is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1940 views
- 181 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each color combination once every 24 hours. The rank of each color combination is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
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More information on most difficult color combination to read
Color is an essential aspect of visual design, and it can significantly impact how easily we can read and comprehend information. While some color combinations are aesthetically pleasing and easy on the eyes, others can be challenging to read and understand. In particular, certain color pairings can cause eye strain, headaches, and visual fatigue, making them particularly difficult to read. Understanding the most challenging color combinations can help us design more accessible and user-friendly visual content. So, what are the most difficult color combinations to read? Let's explore.
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