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Screen Shots and A11y

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From: David Ashleydale
Date: Sep 25, 2012 3:32PM

Hi,

My web site often has screen shots of pages as an introduction to some new
functionality, in addition to describing the functionality in the
accompanying text. The screen shots are meant to familiarize users with how
the service might look if they were to sign up for it. However, this is
very visually-oriented. I don't think there's even a very practical way of
describing a screen shot in ALT text. Or at least, ALT text wouldn't
provide the same purpose as the screen shot, which is specifically to show
the user what it will look like.

Would screen shots be considered "decorative" and therefore be given null
ALT text? Or should there be a completely different strategy that would
take the place of a screen shot for users that are unable to see it?

Thanks,
David Ashleydale