User's Visual Behaviour: relationships between readability, typography and background color - An Eye-tracking View

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to understand the impact of black typography on coloured backgrounds, on the user’s visual behaviour to analyse which colour and opacity are the most appropriate to read black text. We recruited 20 participants (9 identify themselves as male and 11 as female) aged from 18 to 21 years old with a mean age of 19.50 (SD=1.50). All participants were tested with the same criteria and in the same environment. Data were acquired through the Gazepoint GP3 system and the incorporated Gazepoint Application Program Interface software, capable of calculating the individual’s pupillary reaction when exposed to specific colours and individuals were subject to observation of an experimental protocol, with just 2 minutes. We used the colour setting CMY (cyan, magenta and yellow) to analyse two variables: 1) colour used as background; 2) background opacity. The first consists in the changing of the background colour over black text between the colours, yellow, magenta and cyan. The second variable consists in analysing how the change in the opacity of the background affects the reading and the user’s perception, varying the opacity percentage between 100, 50 and 25. All possible combinations (9) of coloured backgrounds were tested, to avoid inaccuracies in data analysis and processing. The typography used was Arial, the font size was 20pt and the colour was black.Through analysing and processing the data provided by the eyetracker, we were able to conclude that 100 percent opaque colours make it more difficult to read black typography. The light intensity of these colours stimulates the participant’s pupil to contract. This discomfort allows us to conclude that choosing yellow, magenta and cyan, with 100 percent opacity, is not the best combination for reading black text.We concluded also that the pupil dilates with reduced light intensities, such as 25 percent opacity. The pupil is in a state of rest when it is not subjected to extreme light stimuli (excessive and reduced), reaching an intermediate size. This happens with backgrounds at 50 percent opacity, which makes reading easier and more fluent.The pupil reaches a state of rest when not subjected to extreme light stimuli, whether excessive (too much light) or reduced (lack of light). Therefore, we can conclude that, regardless of the preferred colour, reading typography in black is more pleasant on backgrounds with opacity between 25 percent and 50 percent.Finally, it is important to highlight that the pupil is constantly adjusting to the environment exposed. The pupillary reaction can be influenced by other external factors, such as the surrounding lighting conditions and everyone’s sensitivity.

Keywords: Colors Tones, Background, Typography, Eyetraking

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1004868

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