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Re: Minimal style needed to make links accessible?

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From: Tim Harshbarger
Date: Aug 25, 2010 7:03AM

You should be able to use the Jucy Studio contrast analyzer to determine
the difference between link and non-link text. The formula that the
contrast analyzer uses isn't necessarily specific to foreground and
background colours. The formula basically determines the luminosity
index of colours and then calculates the ratio between the two colours.

The part I am less certain about is using the success criteria for the
colour contrast between foreground/background colours to determine if
there is enough contrast between link and non-link text. Since I don't
really have a better idea to offer, I guess it will do.

My difficulty with applying the foreground/background contrast ratios to
link/non-link text is that I am uncertain that the ratios may need to be
the same. In the case of foreground and background colours, we want to
ensure there is enough contrast to read the content. With link/non-link
text we are wanting to ensure there is enough difference between the
colours that the user can identify that there is a difference.

I think it might be possible that the contrast ratio can be lower, but
since the other ratio works and I don't have a ratio to suggest, I will
keep using the ones mentioned in WCAG 2.0.

I only mention this now in case someone else might have information that
would support using a different ratio or that would help me understand
that the ratios mentioned in WCAG 2.0 are equally valid for these type
of situations.

Thanks!
Tim