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What is picture description?

Published in Visual Accessibility 2 mins read

Picture description is a written caption that describes the essential information in an image.

Picture descriptions serve to translate visual content into text, making it accessible and understandable. As stated in a reference from Sep 2, 2022, picture descriptions are specifically written captions that convey the core details of an image.

What Visuals Can Picture Descriptions Cover?

Based on the reference provided, picture descriptions apply to a variety of visual media.

  • Photos: Standard photographic images.
  • Graphics: Illustrated or designed visuals.
  • GIFs: Animated images.
  • Video: Content containing moving visuals (describing the visual aspects).

Essentially, they describe "basically anything containing visual information," according to the 02-Sept-2022 reference.

Why Use Picture Descriptions?

While the reference doesn't explicitly state why, the act of describing essential information makes visuals accessible, particularly for people who are visually impaired or when images fail to load. They provide a textual alternative to visual understanding.

Here's a simple breakdown:

Element Description Applies To
Picture Description Written caption Visual information
Purpose Describes essential information Photos, graphics, gifs, video

Picture descriptions ensure that the core message or content of an image is communicated through text, facilitating understanding across different contexts and accessibility needs.

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