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Thread: WCAG 1.4.5 Question
Number of posts in this thread: 4 (In chronological order)
From: David Ashleydale
Date: Thu, Mar 29 2012 5:49PM
Subject: WCAG 1.4.5 Question
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1.4.5 Images of Text, states at the beginning, "If the technologies being
used can achieve the visual presentation, text is used to convey
information rather than images of text..."
What is meant by the word "technologies" in this case? Does it mean things
like HTML, Flash, PDF, etc.? Or does it mean the technology used to create
the page or file?
For example, let's say I'm talking about an HTML web page, but the
technology used to create the page is a software that assembles components
dynamically. And this software was specifically created to place images on
web pages, not chunks of HTML.
Would this be a case where we could say that "the technology being used
can't achieve the visual presentation", and we pass this guideline? Or, as
far as this guideline is concerned, is this just an HTML page and HTML
*is*capable of achieving the visual presentation using regular text,
so this
case fails the guideline.
I guess I'm wondering about the intent of including the "if" clause at the
beginning of this guideline. They could have just said, "Text *must* be
used to convey information, rather than images of text..." but they are
giving an "out" to page authors in some situation. Is my case an example of
that situation? If not, what would be an example of a "technology that
can't be used to achieve the visual presentation?
Thanks,
David
From: David Ashleydale
Date: Fri, Jun 08 2012 5:53PM
Subject: Re: WCAG 1.4.5 Question
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Sorry to revive an old thread, but I'm still struggling with the "Images of
Text" issue, specifically the exception clause: "If the technologies being used
can achieve the visual presentation..."
Does anyone know what the intent of that clause is? Why does using a
certain technology excuse a web site author from conforming to this
guideline? Shouldn't it be: "... and if the technologies being used
*can't* achieve
the visual presentation, then switch to another technology that can"?
What's to prevent a web site author that is using one of these "bad"
technologies to just continue using it? Can they just continue using it
forever and always claim compliance with this guideline? What if someone
else comes along and says that they think it's easier to use images of
text, so they *choose* to use a technology that doesn't support HTML text
just so they, too, can claim conformance with this guideline?
I just wish I knew the intent behind this.
Thanks,
David
From: Jeevan Reddy
Date: Fri, Mar 30 2012 6:52AM
Subject: Re: WCAG 1.4.5 Question
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David,
1.4.5 Images of Text, states at the beginning, "If the technologies being
> used can achieve the visual presentation, text is used to convey
> information rather than images of text..."
> The intent of the success criteria is to use text as much as possible
> instead images so that text can easily processed for example translating
> into other languages and reduces page load. This doesn't limit you to use
> text only which is not realistic in todays web sites.
>
Also this will apply only to images of text for example text snips
not for general images like photographs.
> What is meant by the word "technologies" in this case? Does it mean things
> like HTML, Flash, PDF, etc.? Or does it mean the technology used to create
> the page or file?
>
> Yes, technologies being used here are the technologies used to creat the
web like HTML, CSS, Javascript/Jquery, etc for creating web pagbes and
Office documents, spread sheets, presentations, and Accrobat etc to creat
web content.
> For example, let's say I'm talking about an HTML web page, but the
> technology used to create the page is a software that assembles components
> dynamically. And this software was specifically created to place images on
> web pages, not chunks of HTML.
>
> Would this be a case where we could say that "the technology being used
> can't achieve the visual presentation", and we pass this guideline? Or, as
> far as this guideline is concerned, is this just an HTML page and HTML
> *is*capable of achieving the visual presentation using regular text,
> so this
> case fails the guideline.
>
> This would definetly paass the successs criteria 1.4.5.
> I guess I'm wondering about the intent of including the "if" clause at the
> beginning of this guideline. They could have just said, "Text *must* be
> used to convey information, rather than images of text..." but they are
> giving an "out" to page authors in some situation. Is my case an example of
> that situation? If not, what would be an example of a "technology that
> can't be used to achieve the visual presentation?
>
> Yes, you can't achive visual presentation because it is used to process
the images(inserting in your case).
> Thanks,
> David
> > > >
--
Best Regards,
*Jeevan Reddy,
Accessibility Developer,
Onya Digital Solutions Pvt Ltd,
Bangalore, India.
*
From: Ryan E. Benson
Date: Thu, Mar 29 2012 7:15PM
Subject: Re: WCAG 1.4.5 Question
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David,
Did you see: http://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/visual-audio-contrast-text-presentation.html
? I think that link would cover most of your questions.
From Understanding SC 1.4.5
> The intent of this Success Criterion is to encourage authors, who are using
> technologies which are capable of achieving their desired default visual presentation,
> to enable people who require a particular visual presentation of text to be able to
> adjust the text presentation as needed.
To me, it sounds like it means the actual graphics programs a content
author may use because they can't get the look they want (I assume
using CSS or something in comparison). Things like a drop shadow (pre
CSS3) might be one such presentation.
--
Ryan E. Benson
On Thu, Mar 29, 2012 at 7:49 PM, David Ashleydale < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> 1.4.5 Images of Text, states at the beginning, "If the technologies being
> used can achieve the visual presentation, text is used to convey
> information rather than images of text..."
>
> What is meant by the word "technologies" in this case? Does it mean things
> like HTML, Flash, PDF, etc.? Or does it mean the technology used to create
> the page or file?
>
> For example, let's say I'm talking about an HTML web page, but the
> technology used to create the page is a software that assembles components
> dynamically. And this software was specifically created to place images on
> web pages, not chunks of HTML.
>
> Would this be a case where we could say that "the technology being used
> can't achieve the visual presentation", and we pass this guideline? Or, as
> far as this guideline is concerned, is this just an HTML page and HTML
> *is*capable of achieving the visual presentation using regular text,
> so this
> case fails the guideline.
>
> I guess I'm wondering about the intent of including the "if" clause at the
> beginning of this guideline. They could have just said, "Text *must* be
> used to convey information, rather than images of text..." but they are
> giving an "out" to page authors in some situation. Is my case an example of
> that situation? If not, what would be an example of a "technology that
> can't be used to achieve the visual presentation?
>
> Thanks,
> David
> > >