Environment
Microsoft PowerPoint.
Issue
Ensure that images and graphics with annotations (circles, arrows, and other shapes) are accessible.
Resolution
The shapes, lines, and other graphics frequently used in PowerPoint to highlight or annotate images are not immediately accessible. In order to ensure that all users can understand the annotations, use one of the following approaches.
Group All (.JPG Graphics Only)
If the image being annotated is a .jpg file, then users can select the image and all shapes/lines and use the Group function to make them into a single image.
Assistive technology and other tools will treat all the grouped items as a single image, but if you need to make changes later, you can ungroup the items and move things around. Once the items are grouped, you can write alt text describing the image and the annotations for the group.
Mark Shapes as Decorative
If the image being annotated is anything besides a .jpg file, you will need to use this approach.
- Select all the shapes and Group them, as described above.
- Mark this group as decorative.
- Write alt text for the base image that includes information about the annotations: what elements are being circled, pointed to, etc.
Additional Information
Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.