Thread: Adding Alt text for images in InDesign

As mentioned, and even though you always have the last resort to make accessibility fixes with Acrobat directly on the PDF, it's always better to set all features in the native format.

InDesign gives you the chance to add Alt text by:

• Selecting an image that does not have alt text with the Selection tool.
• Choosing the by clicking on the top menu Object > Object Export Options.
• Selecting the Alt Text tab in the Object Export Options dialog box.
• Choosing Custom from the Alt Text Source menu.
• Entering the description in the text field, and clicking Done.

By the way, let me attach a screen shot of what it looks like. A true piece o'cake!

Alt text_export-panel copy.jpg

Hi Gentle!
Please note that if you want the image to display the alt text when you rollover the image, you must apply it using Tagged PDF tab instead.

Originally Posted by santiagop

...you must apply it using Tagged PDF tab instead.

Wouldn't it be another way of doing it? Is it that may method only works on the PDF being printed at that same moment but not including the use of ALT TEXT for future reference?

Originally Posted by gentle

Wouldn't it be another way of doing it? Is it that may method only works on the PDF being printed at that same moment but not including the use of ALT TEXT for future reference?

Hi Gentle. What I'm saying is that you have to apply it using the second tab called Tagged PDF.
sarasa.jpg

Originally Posted by santiagop

Hi Gentle. What I'm saying is that you have to apply it using the second tab called Tagged PDF.
sarasa.jpg

Ohhh! So, I thought that including the Alt Text in the first box will transfer that when exporting in PDF format, but you seem to be right and for either format (PDF or ePub/HTML) you will need to copy the alt text to generate a tag in the exported file. A bit bureaucratic, from my perspective.

Originally Posted by gentle

Ohhh! So, I thought that including the Alt Text in the first box will transfer that when exporting in PDF format, but you seem to be right and for either format (PDF or ePub/HTML) you will need to copy the alt text to generate a tag in the exported file. A bit bureaucratic, from my perspective.

I don't know why .. but sometimes alt text did't export in some images. ... maybe is the image format?

Originally Posted by RodrigoDG

I don't know why .. but sometimes alt text did't export in some images. ... maybe is the image format?

Not sure, either, as it never happened to me, indeed. In any case, and to be on the safe side, I think I'd pick santiagop's advice to enter the Alt text in the right box.

images don't export in the same way.... you can add an alt text but when you export for 508 some images don't export the alt text. it's not the same if images are jpg, gif, png, tif or eps... don't work in the same way....