Environment
Google Slides
Issue
The Grackle Slides accessibility checker may inaccurately assess values for background colors, resulting in incorrect reports of color contrast violations. This occurs when text boxes and shapes are layered separately.
Resolution
Strategy 1: Alternate color checking tool
If you wish to check the color contrast without modifying the slide deck, the free Colour Contrast Analyzer tool is useful. It lets you use virtual eyedroppers to select the background and text colors, and then tells you whether the contrast is sufficient. If not, you can experiment with sliders until you find a compliant combination. The Colour Contrast Analyzer can also be downloaded from MiWorkspace.
Strategy 2: Modify your slide deck
If you wish to have Grackle Slides work correctly, there are two options that Grackle suggests:
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Type directly into the shape. The easiest fix is to not use a separate text box. Instead, create your shape, double-click it, and type inside. The checker will then read the contrast correctly.
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Use the Theme Builder for templates. For reusable designs, go to View > Theme Builder and add the colored shape to the slide layout itself. This makes it part of the background so all text will be checked against it properly.
Additional Information
Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.