TOOLDesign for every kind of vision
Around 1 in 12 men has some form of colour blindness, so a colour combination that looks clear to you might be confusing to them. This simulator shows how any colour appears under the three main types — protanopia, deuteranopia and tritanopia — plus a full-spectrum strip so you can see how the whole rainbow shifts.
The three types
- Protanopia — reduced sensitivity to red (red-green).
- Deuteranopia — reduced sensitivity to green (red-green, the most common).
- Tritanopia — reduced sensitivity to blue (blue-yellow, rare).
Use it well
If two colours in your design look identical under a simulation, don't rely on colour alone to tell them apart — add labels, icons or patterns. Check text contrast too with the contrast checker, and build safer schemes with the palette generator.
This uses standard simulation matrices to approximate colour vision deficiency. It's a design aid, not a medical test; real perception varies from person to person.
Frequently asked questions
What are protanopia, deuteranopia and tritanopia?
They are types of color blindness. Protanopia and deuteranopia are red-green deficiencies (the most common), where reds and greens look similar. Tritanopia is a rarer blue-yellow deficiency. Together they cover the main forms of color vision deficiency.
How common is color blindness?
About 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have some form of color vision deficiency, most commonly red-green. That's why designers check that information isn't conveyed by color alone.
How accurate is this simulation?
It uses standard simulation matrices that approximate how each type of color blindness shifts colors. It's a useful design guide, not a medical diagnosis — actual perception varies between individuals.