Graphics and Images

Can you understand content associated with graphics, icons, and images?

Why it’s important:

Tai uses his mobile device to browse websites and has trouble interpreting visualisations with small text.
Patricia has low vision and needs to magnify the page to view graphics and images.

Confirm all graphics have descriptive captions written in plain language.
Avoid using graphics when written content could communicate the same thing.
Users with low vision often magnify the page. Make sure all images are not pixelated when magnified.
Use icons as helpful visual cues to connect to concepts. Elements to consider:
- Only use icons with a purpose and not for decoration.
- Use familiar icons that people can associate with common actions. For example the use of a magnifying glass to represent search functionality.
- Icon size, particularly for icon links is important. A good size to remember is 44 x 44 pixels because an icon any smaller may be hard for some people to touch on their devices.
When using text over images, add a solid background behind the text or a dark overlay to the image.
Use generous colour contrast ratios for all graphics to assist Colour blind users.

Last modified: 20 February 2021