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Your resume uses one accent color for headings, icons and colored bands such as a template’s header or sidebar. Body text stays near-black so it prints well and reads cleanly in applicant tracking systems. This guide shows how to choose the accent, check that it’s readable, and adjust the other colors and the level indicators.

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Pick an accent color

1

Open Color

In the editor, select Design (or press 2), then select Color in the row of links at the top of the panel.
2

Choose a swatch

Select one of the eight swatches: Moss, Ink blue, Teal, Plum, Rust, Burgundy, Ochre or Graphite. Hover over a swatch to see its name. All eight are dark enough to read on white.
The Color group with eight round swatches, Ink blue selected, a hex field reading #2F5A8A with a contrast ratio of 7.1:1, and a note that the accent is used for headings, icons and the header band

The Color group with Ink blue selected and its contrast ratio

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Use your own color

Type a six-digit hex code, such as #1F6E73, in the field under the swatches. The # is optional. The page updates as soon as the code is complete, and the square on the left shows the color. Next to the field is the color’s contrast ratio against white. Headings need at least 4.5:1 to read comfortably. Below that, the ratio turns amber and a warning appears:
The Color group with a custom color #0084D1 at 4.0:1, and an amber warning reading Too light for headings on white. It may be hard to read and print faintly, with a Use a darker shade button

A light blue accent triggers the contrast warning

Select Use a darker shade to keep the same hue but darken it until it reads well on white (at least 4.6:1).

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Change text and background colors

The Color group only sets the accent. For the other colors, open Advanced at the bottom of the Design panel and find its Design section:
  • The row of 22 swatches sets the accent (primary) color. These include bright colors that may not pass the contrast check.
  • Primary Color is the accent.
  • Text Color is the color of body text.
  • Background Color is the page color.
Each has a color picker (the circle) and a text field that shows the value in the form rgba(47, 90, 138, 1). Use the picker, or type a new value in the same form.
The Advanced Design section showing 22 square color swatches, the Primary Color, Text Color and Background Color fields with rgba values, and the Level area with a preview of three out of five stars, an Icon picker set to a star and Type set to Icon

Advanced → Design: color fields and the Level style

Colored or dark backgrounds, and light text, can be hard to read when printed and may confuse some applicant tracking systems. The contrast check in the Color group doesn’t look at these fields.

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Change how skill levels look

Skills and languages can show a level, for example 4 out of 5. Under Level in Advanced → Design, choose how every level on your resume is drawn. The preview above the controls shows level 3 in your accent color. You set each entry’s level while writing it; see Editing entries.
Cover letters have the same Color controls in their own Design mode. See Writing a cover letter.