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  • Luminance and Textural Contrast
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Luminance and Textural Contrast

 

This is an example of TGSI having both luminance and textural contrasts. This is a good example of a contrasting band on a glass door, as the yellow band contrasts well with the background

The use of both luminance and textural contrasts maximises accessibility for people with vision impairment. The luminance contrast assists in recognising hazards while their textural contrast is equally useful. TGSI provide a good example of the combination of luminance and textural contrast.

The importance of luminance contrast is clearly demonstrated by glass doors and walls. Without a band of contrasting colour, people with normal vision often find them difficult to detect.

To prevent accidents, a coloured band used on glass should contrast sufficiently with the background surface. This may require the use of two different colours on either side, depending on the backgrounds. Consider, for example, a glass door at the entry to a building. When exiting the building, an asphalt road (dark grey) is seen through the door, and when entering the building, a pale wall is seen through the door. A contrast with the dark grey is required when exiting the building, while a contrast with the pale wall is required when entering.