How to handle alt text for graphic novels with multiple panels per image

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How to handle alt text for graphic novels with multiple panels per image thread
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kvtomes

How do others handle alt text when the image “contains” multiple images? For example, in a graphic novel, we typically have one image per page, which shows 6 panels. Do you list the alt text in panel order, noting which number panel it is? Do you give a brief description in alt text, and then use long description for deeper info. This seems clunky to a user. Is there another option here I’m not thinking of?

 

 

APLN Moderator

Hi kvtomes!

Thank you for your question!

Usually in graphic novels, since nearly every page requires a lengthy description, it is better to add the description using alt-text, instead of linking to a long description on a separate xhtml page—that would certainly be a clunky reading experience.

As for multiple panels or frames on a page, the alt-text can note that the page has multiple panels and then describe each one in reading order. For example:

alt=”Multi-panel comic. Panel 1: […] Panel 2: […]” etc.

There is a way to use aria-describedby to provide a longer description for an image as well. However, since aria-describedby does not have wide support across different reading applications, I would stick to the alt-text method.

kvtomes

Thanks for the insight!

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