Skip to main content

Cornell University

Web Accessibility Reviews

All Guidelines

37

Images of text are not used when the same presentation can be made with native HTML/CSS. Logos and branding are excluded.

WGAC 2 criterion 1.4.5 Images of Text (AA)
Category Images
ACT Rules

WCAG 2 criterion

1.4.5 Images of Text (Level AA)

Tools and requirements

  • Manual Evaluation

Test procedure

When evaluating pages within the scope of manual evaluation, check for cases where images exist that include text. Report images of text where the text in the image can be replicated using HTML and CSS. Possible examples may include:

  • Text over a banner image
  • Text with transparency
  • Text with gradients
  • Text made to appear as a button

Examples of images of text that need to be flagged include

  • Banner/Carousel images that include a lot of text where there is no alternative text version
  • Images of documents that lack a text alternative
  • Images of text that serve as buttons or controls

Examples of images of text that should NOT be flagged include

  • Text in the background of the primary subject of the image (like a STOP sign in the background.
  • Logos and branding.
  • Handwriting or similar text that you cannot display using HTML and CSS.

AI Prompt