Contrast-ratio-based color generation for accessible themes

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Graphic designers and artists face inefficiencies in maintaining consistent color themes across different applications and devices due to variations in display types and environmental lighting conditions, which can make darker themes difficult to view in dimly lit environments.

Innovation Solution

A color generation module that calculates target contrast ratios for content colors based on background brightness and hue values, adjusting saturation and hue to ensure consistent appearance across multiple interfaces while adhering to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manually creating and maintaining color themes across multiple applications, then color consistency can be controlled, but the process becomes time-consuming and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor theme creation efficiencyVSAvoidtime for manual color adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically generates content colors based on the background color using contrast ratio calculations, eliminating the need for manual color creation and maintenance across multiple applications. The color generation module performs self-service by computing accessible color palettes without user intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes color parameters (hue, saturation, brightness) automatically based on the background color and contrast ratio requirements. By adjusting these parameters algorithmically, the system maintains color consistency across applications without manual intervention, significantly improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If using darker color themes to reduce eye strain in dim environments, then visual comfort improves, but visibility of content colors deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeye strain in dim environmentsVSAvoidvisibility of content colors

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from the background color brightness to automatically adjust content color parameters. By calculating contrast ratios between background and content colors, the system ensures that content colors remain visible and accessible even when the background is dark, thus reducing eye strain without sacrificing visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system preemptively adjusts content color parameters based on predicted background brightness levels. By calculating appropriate contrast ratios before displaying content, the system prevents visibility issues from arising in the first place, ensuring that content remains detectable regardless of the background darkness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Adaptability or versatility

If adjusting display screen brightness to adapt to environmental lighting, then visibility in different environments improves, but the color theme appearance consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental adaptabilityVSAvoidcolor theme appearance consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts content color parameters based on the background color and contrast ratio requirements. By making colors adaptive to the background rather than static, the system maintains appearance consistency across different environmental lighting conditions and display brightness settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The color generation module creates universally accessible color palettes that work across multiple applications and environmental conditions. By base colors on contrast ratio principles rather than fixed values, the system ensures consistent appearance whether the display is bright or dark, indoors or outdoors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Use of energy by moving object

If using reflective displays to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but visibility in bright environments deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay power consumptionVSAvoidambient light interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes content color parameters (hue, saturation, brightness) based on the background color to maintain appropriate contrast ratios. By adjusting color properties rather than display brightness, the system compensates for ambient light interference on reflective displays without increasing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS10937204B2Contrast-ratio-based color generation

Publication Date: 2021.03.02 ADOBE INC

AI summary

In implementations of contrast-ratio-based color generation, a user interface displays on a display device of a computing device, where the user interface includes a background color and content colors of content displayed in the user interface. A color generation module implemented by the computing device receives input that changes the background color in the user interface. The color generation module can then calculate a brightness value of the background color, calculate target contrast ratios of the respective content colors based on the brightness value of the background color, generate color values for new content colors based on the calculated target contrast ratios of the respective content colors, calculate respective brightness values of the new content colors based on the generated color values for the new content colors, and adjust a saturation and hue of the new content colors based on the calculated respective brightness values of the new content colors.