Instructions
Section 5.1: Alternative Text
All images regardless of their complexity need to have an Alt text in some way. Alt Text is a brief description of your image that is 150 characters or less. This Alt Text is meant for any image that has meaning within the context of the document. Screen readers cannot read images to the reader, so Alt text acts as a substitute. To add an Alt Text to your image,
Right-click the image and select Edit Alt Text.
Type the alt text in the menu that pops up to the right. Use 150 characters or less.
If the image is decorative, write the word Decorative as the alt text (do not check the box that says "Mark as decorative").
Our decorative image has an Alt Text that says “Decorative”. The Mark as Decorative checkbox is unchecked.
This example of Alt Text fails to describe all of the details in the image.
This example of Alt Text is much better. It describes many details in the image so that the reader has a better idea of what is in the picture.
Section 5.2: Long Descriptions
When using complex images, you should include a link to a long description in addition to an Alt Text. Sometimes, 150 characters is not enough to describe your image, table, chart, or graph to a reader. Alt Text is meant to be short, while long description will let you give as much info as needed. It is recommended to create your long description in Microsoft Word, then link the document to your presentation.
This image of the Hagia Sophia in Turkey has an Alt Text. However, there is no link to a long description.
This image of the Hagia Sofia has an alt text. There is also a link to the long description that will go into more detail about what is in the picture.
Section 5.3: Watermarks and Backgrounds
Watermarks and background images should not be used. They will interfere with peoples ability to read the page. Watermarks and backgrounds tend to be very distracting to most readers. It is best to use a background that does not interfere much at all with the text on the slide.
This slide has a background that is very distracting to readers. These should always be avoided when making a presentation.
This background does not interfere with the text and gives the PowerPoint a very professional look.
Section 5.4: Text Boxes, Shapes, and Other Floating Objects
To learn more about text boxes, shapes, and other floating objects. Refer to our section in Microsoft Word. Creating the content and the rules for use are the same in both software. PowerPoint differs from Word in one very significant way: floating objects are easy to navigate and make up the very nature of the entire slide. The title field in a slide, for instance, is a text box. Users just needs to hit the tab button to navigate slide and each object will be selected, announced, and the alt text (if present) will be read.
You do not need to add alt text to text boxes, since the contents are directly read by a screen reader, but you MUST add alt text to other non-text objects, including shapes and icons (and of course, images, graphs, charts, etc.).