How to Add a Color Overlay to Any Website

Learn how to use Helperbird's add a color overlay to any website. Complete guide for improving web accessibility and reading support.

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  • features
  • reading

What is a Color Overlay?

A color overlay adds a transparent colored layer on top of the entire webpage. It is like looking through a sheet of colored plastic or glass.

Many people find that a tinted overlay reduces the harsh contrast of black text on white backgrounds. This can make text appear calmer and easier to read.


Who is This For?

This feature is helpful for:

  • People with dyslexia who benefit from colored overlays
  • Anyone with Irlen Syndrome or visual stress
  • People who find bright white screens uncomfortable
  • Anyone who experiences eye strain or headaches when reading online
  • Students who need to read for long periods

Step 1: Open Helperbird

Click the Helperbird icon in your browser toolbar. It looks like a small owl and is usually in the top-right corner of your browser.

This will open the Helperbird menu.

The Helperbird popup with Helperbird switched on, showing the quick actions grid and the All Features button


Step 2: Open the All Features Section

Scroll down to the bottom of the Helperbird menu. You will see a section called All Features.

Click the arrow next to All Features to expand it and show all available features.

The All Features list in the Helperbird popup, showing every feature in alphabetical order


Step 3: Find Color Overlay

Look through the list of features until you see Color overlay.

It has a red icon with a layers symbol on it.

The All Features list scrolled to show the Color overlay row and its Open button


Step 4: Open Color Overlay

Click the arrow button next to Color overlay to open it.

A panel will appear with the overlay toggle at the top and a Settings section below it.

The Color overlay panel open in the Helperbird popup, showing the Color overlay control


Step 5: Turn on Overlay

At the top of the panel, look for the Color overlay toggle.

Click the toggle switch to turn it on.

A colored tint will immediately appear over the entire webpage, and a green Active badge will show next to the feature in the list.

The Color overlay toggle switched on in the Helperbird popup


Step 6: Customize the Overlay

To adjust the overlay color and intensity, scroll down to the Settings section in the same panel.

Here you can choose different colors and adjust how strong the overlay appears.

The Color overlay options shown after the toggle is switched on


Overlay Settings

In the Settings section, you can customize the following:

  • Color - Choose a color for the overlay from the color grid. Popular choices include yellow, blue, pink, and green. Different colors work better for different people, so try a few to find what is most comfortable for you.

  • Opacity - Adjust how strong the overlay is using the slider or the minus and plus buttons. A lower opacity makes the overlay more transparent, while a higher opacity makes the color more intense.

The overlay's color and opacity are separate from the reading ruler settings, so you can adjust each one independently.

Tip: Many people with dyslexia or Irlen Syndrome find that certain specific colors work best for them. If you have worked with a specialist who recommended a particular overlay color, you can match it here. Try different colors and opacity levels to find what feels most comfortable for your eyes.


Video Tutorial


Need Additional Help?

If you have any questions or run into any issues, please contact the Helperbird support team. You can reach us at Helperbird support. We are happy to help you get the most out of Helperbird.

What People Are Saying

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Where to start! Firstly, I'd like to thank Robert (the developer) for his generosity - the app is extremely cheap as apps go. It is very apparent that this app is a labour of love - Robert is constantly working on it and improving things, adding new features, etc. As someone with ADHD and ASD, I have always had to piece-meal together the features I need to help me study effectively - half a dozen different apps / extensions, and even then they don't quite meet my expectations. Helperbird, however, offers SO MUCH more, and all in one place - you can finetune your experience to your heart's desire. The features I particularly love are summarise, simplify, sticky notes, highlighting, and the amazing immersive reader with TTS. I can't sing Helperbird's praises enough. Thank you, Robert, for such a thoughtful - and genuinely helpful - app. You are empowering the neurodivergent everywhere.

Firefox user

Firefox user

Helperbird user

I purchased this for my daughter who has been having a lot of difficulty accessing the online work set remotely by her teachers during our National Lockdown because of Covid-19. Her dyslexia was really hindering her ability to complete tasks and keep up which in turn led to increased anxiety levels...a really horrid place to be in during a global pandemic! Helper bird has been a vast help and I fully recommend it and wish more schools knew about it. Thank You Helper Bird.

Michelle Howard-Price

Michelle Howard-Price

Assistive technology specialist

Works a treat. This is brill!

Sue Dowdall

Sue Dowdall

Helperbird user

Best website reading enhancer

Sandeep K.

Sandeep K.

Domain Trainer

I am very happy with this application has been very helpful for my studying I recommend this application for the people that have concentration problems like me!

Nuria E Rivera R

Nuria E Rivera R

Helperbird user

Fantastic! Great software and simple to use even for kids new to the computer. Provides the option to tailor every variable to make any page easier to read. Really excellent. Super helpful support too. Great job!

Rebecca Meldrum

Rebecca Meldrum

High School teacher

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