Folks please don’t forget to ALT your images! The more new folks show up here the lower the adoption of ALT is and that’s a bummer cause it means not all Bluesky users can enjoy your images!
Here’s how to turn on prompts to remind you to ALT:
Here’s how to turn on prompts to remind you to ALT:
Comments
I’m a stranger to my iphone.
One is to think about what you're conveying with the image. If that part of a post went missing, what would be lost from what you are trying to communicate?
Another is to replicate the experience. If you could not see the picture, what would you be missing?
She says, correctly, that it's an art.
It's also a skill. Practice generally leads to improvement. I'd like to think mine are better now than a year ago.
See what you think of the difference between the OP's alt text and my repost - both accurate, but with different goals.
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ze342uk73yy2yokjfygpjc2q/post/3laavfiwerx23
This is a really straight-forward introduction.
But also, never forget, if you're posting a screenshot of text (eg a magazine or website page) that also needs alt text and many apps enable you to copy-paste the text directly.
This post is additional good guidance:
https://bsky.app/profile/a11yawareness.bsky.social/post/3lahbkc2u2r2l
If the image is just a picture of text, put the text in the alt, like so:
(If the context is a little obscure, it can be helpful to mention that, too; see context in this one.)
Screen/text readers tell vision impaired people what is on their screen, but a photo just shows up as IMAGE or something similar. If the photo is the point of your post, screen readers won't say that.
The point is to describe the photo so screen/text readers can get the point across to people who can't see the screen.
"This is the way... IMAGE" doesn't help.
If it’s a screenshot of text, alt is the text. If it’s a photo conveying a single fact, something brief like “selfie with the award I just won” gets that across. If it’s a detailed photo meant to be savored, describe it lushly.
Can anyone explain this to me like I’m a five year old? I’d like to comply with your wishes…
Why didn’t I ever hear about this on Twitter? Would’ve done it there too.
Good timing, as I was at a fundraiser for a kid losing his vision last night. This seems like the least we can do.
Just changed my setting to require alt description before posting.
Can I got back to my already posted images and do this? I tried but don’t see an option.
Nothing’s perfect, but we can help make it better.
You encouraged. Thank you
I use the setting to require it. I added it and it isn’t showing on the post.
I hate that the video doesn’t have a description. Ugh.
The alt text field is not for some SEO, word salad hack.
“Lovely! Please consider adding alt text to your picture posts? There’s a Bsky setting to remind you and it’s really easy to do.
It has a big impact on the inclusivity of the community here. Thank you!”
I don't suppose you are aware of a way I can add to photos I've already posted?
***Please do not put any art you didn't create into it without express permission from the artist
(Which is why not alt-texting children is okay.)
The vast majority of the time, adding alt text is fun! And even when you're tired/not in the mood, a perfunctory effort is all we ask.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/everything-you-need-to-know-to-write-effective-alt-text-df98f884-ca3d-456c-807b-1a1fa82f5dc2
The amount of times this setting has reminded me I didn't do ALT is higher than the times I did it on my own... until recently and it's just become a habit.
NoFeed
https://bsky.app/profile/zetaphor.com/post/3l75jzardlr2x
It's such a small act but can make such a big difference. Leading by example is the way.
💯💯
If Bluesky wants to provide Alt text, they can hire people to do it.
Stop policing how people post.
I don't have the energy to do Alt text, and you saying people like me should not post images makes you a fucking cunt.
But AI alt text is a very complicated thing and can't be relied on on its own.
I would have to ask more questions to know what specifically is meant here though.
But also I would not trust a generative AI like Gemini to do accurate OCR anyway because that's not what it's good at or for.
Thanks for the heads-up/how to🥳
And also, not being a techie, would you mind explaining what ALTing images does?
It's great when accessibility tools can ALSO benefit others, but not at the cost of access.
Tell me what wording exists that persuades a troll not to troll.
If you accomplish this I believe there are 13 million Bluesky users that will worship you until their dying day. Count me among them. 🤣
I snark, but any troll that sees "please don't abuse this" will abuse this.
https://bsky.app/settings/accessibility
https://actuallyusefulai.com/ai/accessibility/alt/alt_old.html
I'll figure out what works best here for me. It's a whole new world.