Images

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Guidance from the Perkins School for the Blind

Below is a summary of the article "How to Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the visually impaired"

What to include when writing alt text and image descriptions:

  • Type of image
    • Bar Chart, drawing, cartoon, screenshot, etc.
    • Text
      • All text should be written verbatim when transcribing text for alt text and image descriptions.
  • Who is in the image
  • Setting of the image
  • Color(s)
    • Use shade names such as cobalt blue, periwinkle, burgundy, lime green, metallic gold, or
    • Describe item (i.e. green banana or yellow bell pepper)
  • Expression and emotions
  • Item locations and descriptions
  • Interesting details
  • Link to data or transcript

Example

An infographic titled “Writing Alt Text” featuring a photo of a capybara. Parts of alt text are divided by color, including identify who, expression, description, colour, and interesting features. The finished description reads “A capybara looking relaxed in a hot spa. Yellow yuzu fruits are floating in the water, and one is balanced on the top of the capybara’s head.
Created by digital agency Puzzle in the UK for their #AccessAlt campaign. They turned the information from their blog post into a fun infographic on how to write alt text.

Basic Accessibility Checklist for Images

  • Do not start alt text with “picture of” or “graphic of”
  • Alt text is accurate (not file name)
  • Validate auto-generated alt text
  • Include enough information for end user
  • Include text verbatim found in image
  • Exclude information found near the image (i.e. caption below image)
  • Include alt text of images with hyperlink
  • Alt text can vary for same image based on context
  • Graphs/Charts and maps are more complex
  • Ask content creator (person who wants to use the image) to write the alt text

    Download Accessible Images Checklist