Photoshop Incompatibility with High Contrast Mode Leading to Accessibility Issues
- January 25, 2026
- 1 reply
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I'm a blind/low-vision Photoshop user (I have some sight, so I am able to use the interface.) I'm an artist and architect and often use Photoshop because it is industry standard. Lately I've noticed the app has stopped working with Windows High Contrast Mode, a software feature I rely on heavily toc create a black background with white text. My eyes are very light sensitive, so white backgrounds overstimulate my vision - looking at a white screen or a white panel on the screen is very difficult, and usually impossible for me to see. It is also painful (it feels kind of like a person with full sight looking at the sun or a very bright light.) With recent updates, the Photoshpo menus on my computer have not been adapting to the system colors, so they are appearing white and preventing me from being able to use Photoshop at my job. I'm hoping you can have a developer take a look at this. I've provided two screenshots. The first is what Photoshop looks like in high contrast mode, and the second is what other programs look like.
As you can see, in the first photo, the menu is totally white. This is how it's supposed to look on a normal screen, however it's not visible for someone who is photosensitive and it is blocking the high contrast settings. The second (Rhino3D, for comparison) uses the High Contrast color scheme, which is black background with yellow text. I'm hoping you can get this to a developer ASAP.
To be clear: not being compatible with High Contrast mode is a violation of the U.S. Access Board's ICT Standards (Section 508):
36 CFR Part 1194, Appendix C, §503.2 User Preferences
“Applications shall permit user preferences from platform settings for color, contrast, font type, font size, and focus cursor.”
36 CFR Part 1194, Appendix C, §302.2 With Limited Vision (Functional Performance Criteria)
Where a visual mode is provided, ICT must provide at least one mode that “enables users to make use of limited vision.
36 CFR Part 1194, Appendix C, §502.2.2 No Disruption of Accessibility Features
“Software shall not disrupt platform features … defined … as accessibility features."
I've seen that the company is aware of this problem from reading previous accessibility conformance reports. Adobe’s Photoshop for Windows Accessibility Conformance Report marks 503.2 User Preferences as “Partially Supports,” stating the product “does not fully support High Contrast mode.”
Hoping to get this resolved soon!
Thanks!
-Paul
