Color Blindness Simulator
Free online color blindness simulator. Test designs for Protanopia, Deuteranopia, Tritanopia & other CVD types. 100% private, runs in your browser.
What types of color blindness does this simulator test?
This tool simulates all major types of color vision deficiency: Protanopia (red-blind), Deuteranopia (green-blind), Tritanopia (blue-blind), Protanomaly (red-weak), Deuteranomaly (green-weak), Tritanomaly (blue-weak), and Achromatopsia (total color blindness).
How accurate is the color blindness simulation?
The simulation uses scientifically validated color transformation matrices based on research from leading vision science institutions. While individual experiences may vary, it provides highly accurate approximations for each type of color vision deficiency.
Why should designers test for color blindness?
Approximately 8% of men and 0.5% of women worldwide have some form of color vision deficiency. Testing ensures your designs, charts, infographics, and user interfaces are accessible and usable by everyone, improving overall user experience and compliance with accessibility standards.
What is the difference between -opia and -omaly?
-opia (like Protanopia) means complete absence of that cone type, resulting in total inability to distinguish certain colors. -omaly (like Protanomaly) means reduced sensitivity, causing colors to appear muted but still somewhat distinguishable. Anomaly is more common than opia.
How does this color blindness simulator work?
The tool applies color transformation matrices to your input colors, simulating how they appear to people with different types of color vision deficiency. The algorithms are based on established scientific research in color vision and use RGB color space transformations.
Is my data private and secure?
Yes, 100%. This color blindness simulator runs entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. No data is sent to any server, no images are uploaded, and no personal information is collected. Your designs remain completely private.
Can I use this tool for WCAG compliance testing?
Yes, this tool helps identify potential accessibility issues related to color vision deficiency. While it simulates how colors appear to people with CVD, you should also use dedicated contrast checkers to verify WCAG 2.1 AA and AAA compliance for text and UI elements.
What is color vision deficiency (CVD)?
Color vision deficiency, commonly called color blindness, is a genetic condition affecting the eye's cone cells that detect color. It ranges from mild (anomalous trichromacy) to severe (dichromacy) to complete color blindness (achromatopsia). Red-green deficiencies are most common.
How do I test a color palette for color blindness?
Enter your colors into the simulator, then view each color through different CVD filters. Check if colors remain distinguishable from each other. If colors become indistinguishable under a specific filter, consider adjusting your palette to use colors that maintain contrast across all vision types.
What are the most common types of color blindness?
Deuteranomaly (green-weak) is most common, affecting about 5% of males. Protanomaly (red-weak) affects about 1% of males. Deuteranopia (green-blind) and Protanopia (red-blind) each affect about 1% of males. Tritan defects and achromatopsia are rare, affecting less than 0.01% of the population.
Can women be color blind?
Yes, though it's much less common. Since red-green color blindness is X-linked recessive, women need two copies of the gene to express the condition. About 0.5% of women have some form of color vision deficiency compared to 8% of men. Blue-yellow deficiencies affect men and women equally.
Is this tool free to use?
Yes, this color blindness simulator is completely free with no limitations. No registration required, no watermarks, no usage limits. Use it as many times as you need for personal or commercial projects.
How to Use Color Blindness Simulator
See your designs the way users with color vision deficiency do. Simulate Protanopia, Deuteranopia and other CVD types entirely in your browser — no image ever leaves your device.
- Enter a brand color in the #hex field or load an image to preview it under different vision types.
- Open the Type menu and switch between Protanopia, Deuteranopia and Tritanopia to see how red-, green- and blue-blind users perceive your colors.
- Drag the Severity slider from mild to full to test partial color vision loss, which is far more common than total blindness.
- Compare the original and simulated views side by side and rework any pair of colors that becomes hard to tell apart.
- Repeat for each Type you care about, then keep only combinations that stay legible across all of them.
If two Severity levels look identical in your design, don't rely on color alone — add icons, patterns or labels as a second cue.
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