APCA™ for W3C & WCAG3

Welcome!

APCA is the Accessible Perceptual Contrast Algorithm, a new way to predict contrast for text and non-text content on self illuminated displays.

WHAT IS IT?

APCA is a contrast assessment method for predicting the perceived contrast between sRGB colors on a computer monitor. It has been developed as an assessment method for W3 Silver/WCAG3 accessibility standards relating to content for computer displays and mobile devices, with a focus on readability and understandability.

The APCA version in this repositiory is licensed to the W3/AGWG per the collaborative agreement with specific limitations and exclusions. Please see the license file for details.

Current Library Version: 0.1.9 (w3) (98G4g) beta

• See Version Information for details.

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Resources

Visit git.myndex.com for a catalog of resources, including articles, third party and peer reviews, additional documentation, white-papers, and more.

Questions & Comments

For comments and discussions, please see the main SAPC-APCA repo, discussion area. This is also where we discuss draft guidelines and proposals. Please post all comments or discussions there and not in the satellite repositories so they can be tracked and resolved.

LIVE VERSION

There is a working version with examples and reference material on the APCA demo tool site

QUICKSTART

Install

    npm i apca-w3

Import

    <script type="module">

    import { APCAcontrast, reverseAPCA, sRGBtoY, displayP3toY, adobeRGBtoY, alphaBlend, calcAPCA, fontLookupAPCA } from 'apca-w3';

    import { colorParsley, colorToHex, colorToRGB } from 'colorparsley';  // optional string parsing

    </script>

Usage:

PARSE:

If you need to parse a color string or 24bit number, use the colorParsley() function:

    let rgbaArray = colorParsley('aliceblue');

ALPHA BLEND:

Intended for blending the foreground color into the background. Only the foreground has an alpha. There is no conversion to linear space, so blending takes place is the working colorspace, as is standard.

                       // Send 0-255 arrays alphaBlend(FG, BG)
    let alphaBlended = alphaBlend([0,0,0,0.6],colorParsley([255,255,255])),

                       // Send 0-1.0 float arrays for displayP3toY, 5th element
                      // is bool (false for floats): alphaBlend(FG, BG, false)
    let alphaBlended = alphaBlend([0.7,1.0,1.0,0.33],colorParsley([0,0,0]),false);

CONVERT TO Ys:

Send rgba INT array [123,123,123,1.0] to sRGBtoY() — this is a slightly different luminance Y that the IEC piecewise.

    let Ys = sRGBtoY([123,123,123,1.0]);

Note that for for sRGB and Adobe98, the values in the array must be 0.0-255.0 per CSS4 specs, but for displayP3toY(), the values must be 0.0-1.0, per Apple and CSS4 specs.

FIND Lc CONTRAST:

First color must be text, second color must be the background.

    let textColor = [17,17,17,1.0];
    let backgroundColor = [232,230,221,1.0];
    
    let contrastLc = APCAcontrast( sRGBtoY( textColor ), sRGBtoY( backgroundColor ) );

Example using everything together, including alphaBlend:

    let colorTEXT =  rgb(12,23,34,0.65);
    let colorBG =  #e6e0dd;

    let Lc = APCAcontrast(sRGBtoY( alphaBlend(colorParsley(colorTEXT), colorParsley(colorBG)) ),
                        sRGBtoY( colorParsley(colorBG) ));

SHORTCUT ALIAS:

The long complete line shown above is aliased into a function calcAPCA(). Alpha for the text is automatically detected, and ignored if 1 or ''. The input type is also auto detected (string, king of string, number, array, object). By default returns a signed float -108.0 to 106.0 (approx)

    let Lc = calcAPCA(colorTEXT,colorBG);

NEW! Font Size Array

New in this version is an interpolated font size array. Send fontLookupAPCA(contrast) a contrast value, and it returns an array, with the contrast (Lc) as the zeroth element, then 9 font sizes in px corresponding to weights 100 thru 900:

['LcValue',100,200,300,400,500,600,700,800,900]

Example:

fontArray = fontLookupAPCA(-68.541);

console.log(fontArray) // -68.541,67,40,28,20.5,18.5,16.5,15,416,418

Thus the 400 weight font is indicating 20.5px

NEW! Reverse APCA

New in this version is a reverse contrast lookup. Specify a contrast, and one color (i.e. bg) and it will try to find a color with that contrast.

NOTES:

1. Currently only returns a greyscale color
2. If a color can not fit the contrast, or other error, returns false.
   • A small overrun/underrun of a few percent is permitted.
3. Can return a hex string (default) or an array of RGBA values, with the fifth element a string indicating if the color is for text or bg.

    reverseAPCA (Lc, knownY, knownType = 'bg', returnAs = 'hex')

String Theory

See the colorparsley package for documentation on the available string inputs.

colorParsley() is a dependency for the shorthand calcAPCA()

Two Bonus Parameters

There are two extra parameters for calcAPCA(), and one extra for APCAcontrast.

    calcAPCA( text, BG, places, isInt )
    APCAcontrast ( txYs, bgYs, places = -1 )
    alphaBlend( txt, BG, round(bool) )

places defaults to -1, but you can send it 0 and the Lc is returned as a rounded value, and instead of a minus sign for polarity, 'WoB' for white on black is returned.

isInt or round defaults to true, as we assume the RGB tuples are 0-255. If you are sending float such as for displayP3, then set ` isInt = false ``

NOTE: neither of these are "official" and may change, move, or vanish.

APCA-W3 Basic Math (sRGB)

Accessibility Statement for Beta Sites

Beta testers may wish to include the following statement in their site's boilerplate:

This website is beta testing the APCA guidelines for determining text and non-text contrast. It is well known that WCAG 2 contrast maths are not accurate regarding human perception, and automated testing using WCAG 2 math may incorrectly indicate errors in some color pairs on this site. The APCA guidelines are a substantial improvement in accessibility over WCAG 2 contrast criterions, and therefore compliant with the ADA, and also 508 rules under the alternative methods section. Any automated or manual testing done to determine conformance of this site needs to be conducted using a perceptually accurate method such as APCA.

VERSION INFORMATION

Current Algorithm Version: 0.0.98G-4g (February 15, 2021) (w3)

This is the base algorithm version. The other version numbering as listed below are for the overall library file, relating to features and functions are added to aide in integration. These added features do not impact the base algorithm which is stable and undergoing public beta validation.

Current Library Version: 0.1.9 (w3) (98G4g) beta

• See Version History for details.

Font Lookup Table

Current as of May 27, 2022

Notes on the lookups:

• This is a basic table for fluent readability of text. Text that is intended to be read (primary content) should meet or exceed the values on the table.
• For body text, add Lc 15 for any value on the table lower than Lc 75.
• For instance, if using a 24px font, add Lc 15 to the minimum contrast value
• For sub-fluent text (i.e. not primary content) Lc values can be lowered by Lc 15, but in no case less than Lc 30.
• For non-fluent spot text (copyright bug, disabled text, placeholder) Lc values can be lowered by Lc25, but in no case less than Lc 30.
• Fonts larger than 24px and weight 300 or more have a maximum contrast of Lc 90.

Current APCA Constants

( 0.0.98G - W3 last changed Feb 15, 2021 )
These constants are for use with the web standard sRGB colorspace. These are the current constants for use with current library version 0.1.9+

/////  0.0.98G - W3 constants (W3 license only):                       /////
////   These constants remain unchanged for apca-w3                    ////
///    versions 0.1.0 (initial npm package) and later                  ///
//                                                                     //

  exponents =  { mainTRC: 2.4,    normBG: 0.56,    normTXT: 0.57,  revTXT: 0.62,  revBG: 0.65, };

  colorSpace = { sRco: 0.2126729, sGco: 0.7151522, sBco: 0.0721750, };

  clamps =     { blkThrs: 0.022,  blkClmp: 1.414,  loClip: 0.1,  deltaYmin: 0.0005, };

  scalers =    { scaleBoW: 1.14,  loBoWoffset: 0.027, 
                 scaleWoB: 1.14,  loWoBoffset: 0.027, };	

// Note: loClip && deltaYmin do not affect lc in range & only clamp low Lc values

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
/////   0.1.1 Color space coefficients for P3 and Adobe                /////
////    These are derived from the 1931 CIE standard observer          ////
///     Using the equations found at BruceLindbloom.com                ///
//      And using the current CIE D65                                  //

/////  Display P3: /////

const sRco = 0.2289829594805780, 
      sGco = 0.6917492625852380, 
      sBco = 0.0792677779341829; // displayP3 coefficients

// Derived from 1931 CIE xyY:
// xW       yW        K     xR    yR    xG    yG    xB    yB
// 0.312720 0.329030  6504  0.680 0.320 0.265 0.690 0.150 0.060


///// AdobeRGB: /////

const mainTRC = 2.35; // Pending further evaluation:
                     // 2.35 exponent to emulate actual monitor perception

const sRco = 0.2973550227113810, 
      sGco = 0.6273727497145280, 
      sBco = 0.0752722275740913; // adobeRGB coefficients

// Derived from 1931 CIE xyY:
// xW       yW        K     xR    yR    xG    yG    xB    yB
// 0.312720 0.329030  6504  0.640 0.330 0.210 0.710 0.150 0.060


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
///// 0.1.14G MAGIC NUMBERS for UNCLAMP, used only with reverseAPCA() /////
////  for use with blkThrs: 0.022 & blkClmp: 1.414                    ////

  const mFactor = 1.94685544331710;
  const mFactInv = 1/mFactor;
  const mOffsetIn = 0.03873938165714010;
  const mExpAdj = 0.2833433964208690;
  const mExp = mExpAdj / blkClmp;
  const mOffsetOut = 0.3128657958707580;

VERSION HISTORY

0.1.9 - July 3, 2022

• Fixed dependent import statement
• DEV: Added man page and man page generation script
• Some documentation corrections/additions/organization

0.1.8 • June 5, 2022

• Corrected the version numbering in the apca-w3.js file
• Added a LaTeX math svg of the base algorithm to this README file
• NOTE: the live tool at www.myndex.com/APCA/ is now using a version of this apca-w3.js file, as well as colorparsley.

0.1.7 • June 5, 2022

• Version number set to match font lookup table version
• Added new test, run with npm test
• Maintenance updates, adjusted alphaBlend for compliance with CSS4

0.1.4 • May 27, 2022

• Updated the look-up tables for the fontLookupAPCA() function, and also added the data folder, where the raw data for the lookup tables can be found.
• Also some minor maintenance. (Note: the lookup tables are version 0.1.7 — will synchronize numbers on next publish).

0.1.3 • May 17, 2022

• Fixed the module imports for colorparsley and apca-w3 so they play well together.
• No longer providing a minified version in the dist folder. Now just the file in the src folder.

0.1.2 • April 23, 2022

• NEW! fontLookupAPCA(Lc) Live font lookup table — send it a contrast, it returns an array of font sizes (in px) for each of 9 weights (100 to 900).
• NEW! reverseAPCA(Lc,Y,use,returnAs) New in this version is a reverse contrast lookup. Specify a contrast, and one color (i.e. bg) and it will try to find a color with that contrast.

CHANGE for 0.1.1: Jan 12, 2022

• NEW!! Alpha channels! AdobeRGB!!

CHANGE for 0.1.0: Jan 10, 2022

• NEW! displayP3!
• colorParsley() is now in its own package and must be imported separately.
• Replaced alpha versioning with semantic versioning for public beta.
  • NOTE: while the version of this library file increments as features are added, the base algorithm is beta-stable and constants remain fixed at 0.0.98G-4g, from Feb. 15th, 2021.

0.0.98G-4g-4: Dec 21, 2021

0.0.98G-4g-3: Dec 13, 2021

0.0.98G-4g-2: Dec 11, 2021

0.0.98G-4g-betafish: Initial npm publish Dec 2, 2021

This moved over the base APCA and G4g constants (from Feb. 15th, 2021) to an npm package.

APCA is the Accessible Perceptual Contrast Algorithm

THE REVOLUTION WILL BE READABLE™

Disclaimer: APCA is being evaluated as a replacement for WCAG 2 contrast math for future standards and guidelines, however, standards that will be incorporating APCA are still developmental. Because WCAG 2 contrast math does not accurately model human visual perception nor visual impairments, there will be discrepancies between WCAG 2 contrast math, and perceptually uniform models such as APCA. It is up to the end user to determine suitability of purpose for their region and conformance requirements.