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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.

Pick an accent color

1

Open Color

In the editor, select Design (or press 2), then open the Color category.
2

Choose a swatch

Select one of the eight square 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.
Color category with named accent swatches, contrast ratio and Text and Background controls

Set accent, text and background colors

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:
Color controls with light blue #0084D1, an amber contrast warning and Use a darker shade

A light 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).

Change text and background colors

In Design → Color, Text and background holds the other colors:
  • Accent is the highlight color.
  • Text is the color of body text.
  • Background is the page color.
Each has a color square and a text field that shows the value in the form rgba(47, 90, 138, 1). Use the square to open the picker, or type a new value in the same form.
Color category with named accent swatches, contrast ratio and Text and Background controls

Set accent, text and background colors

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.

Change how skill levels look

Skills and languages can show a level, for example 4 out of 5. Under Levels in Design → Entries, 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.