ImageToolKit

Color Blind Simulator — See How Color Blind People See Images [2026]

Upload any image and simulate how it looks to people with color blindness. Supports Protanopia, Deuteranopia, Tritanopia, and Achromatopsia. Free browser-based tool for accessibility testing.

Drop an image here or click to browse

Supports JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP

What is Color Blind Simulator?

Color Blind Simulator is a free online tool that shows how images appear to people with different types of color vision deficiency. Approximately 8% of men and 0.5% of women worldwide have some form of color blindness. This tool applies scientifically-based color transformation matrices to simulate Protanopia (red-blind), Deuteranopia (green-blind), Tritanopia (blue-blind), and Achromatopsia (total color blindness). It is invaluable for designers and developers who want to ensure their visual content is accessible.

How to Use Color Blind Simulator

Upload an image by dragging and dropping or clicking to browse. Use the dropdown menu to select a type of color blindness to simulate: Protanopia (red-blind), Deuteranopia (green-blind), Tritanopia (blue-blind), or Achromatopsia (total color blindness). The tool displays the original image alongside the simulated version so you can compare them side by side. Click "Download" to save the simulated image as a PNG file.

How Color Blind Simulator Works

Your image is loaded into the browser and drawn onto an HTML5 Canvas element. For each pixel, the RGB color values are transformed using scientifically-derived color transformation matrices specific to each type of color blindness. Protanopia (red-blind) reduces the ability to perceive red light, Deuteranopia (green-blind) reduces green perception, and Tritanopia (blue-blind) reduces blue perception. Achromatopsia converts the image to pure grayscale simulating total color blindness. The transformed image is rendered on a second canvas for side-by-side comparison. All processing runs locally in your browser.

Common Use Cases

  • Test website designs for color accessibility compliance
  • Verify that charts and infographics are readable by color blind users
  • Check if product packaging colors are distinguishable for all customers
  • Evaluate UI color schemes for mobile apps before launch
  • Test educational materials for classroom accessibility
  • Validate traffic sign and safety signage color contrast

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of color blindness can this tool simulate?▼

The tool simulates four types: Protanopia (red-blind, ~1% of males), Deuteranopia (green-blind, ~1% of males), Tritanopia (blue-blind, very rare), and Achromatopsia (total color blindness, extremely rare). Red-green color blindness (Protanopia and Deuteranopia combined) is the most common form.

How accurate is the simulation?▼

The simulation uses established color transformation matrices derived from research on color vision deficiency. While no simulation can perfectly replicate the experience of color blindness (which varies between individuals), these transformations provide a reliable approximation used widely in accessibility testing.

Does this tool upload my images to a server?▼

No. All image processing happens entirely in your browser using the HTML5 Canvas API. Your images never leave your device.

Can I use this to test my website for accessibility?▼

Yes. Take a screenshot of your website and upload it to the tool. Check each type of color blindness to verify that important information is not conveyed by color alone. This helps meet WCAG 2.1 accessibility guidelines.

What percentage of people have color blindness?▼

Approximately 8% of men and 0.5% of women of Northern European descent have some form of color vision deficiency. The most common types are red-green color blindness (Protanopia and Deuteranopia). Globally, about 300 million people are affected.

What image formats are supported?▼

You can upload JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, and BMP images. The simulated image is downloaded as a PNG file.

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