How to Tag Separate Images in an Accessible PDF
Question details
The user needs to assign separate alternative text to individual graphics within an infographic, but the PDF editor identifies the entire infographic as a single combined image.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating an accessible PDF and attempting to add precise alternative text to multiple elements grouped in an infographic.
- Observed behavior
- The PDF editor recognizes all images in the infographic as one large flat image, preventing the assignment of individual alt text tags to separate graphics.
Ensure you have access to the original source file (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, or InDesign) used to create the PDF, as you may need to adjust the export settings if the PDF editor cannot split the flattened image.
Use the Reading Order and Tags Panels
Attempt to manually identify and tag individual elements using the advanced accessibility tools in your PDF editor.
Depending on how the PDF was generated, the structural information might still allow manual separation. If the image is entirely flattened at the pixel level, this method may not work.
Open your PDF in Acrobat Pro DC and select the 'Accessibility' tool from the right-hand pane.
Click on 'Reading Order' to view how the page elements are currently grouped, tagged, and ordered.
Use your cursor to drag a box around a specific graphic within the infographic. If the software allows selecting it independently, click 'Figure' to tag it.
Right-click the newly tagged figure in the Reading Order panel, select 'Edit Alternate Text', and enter the specific description for that graphic.
Recreate the PDF from the Source File
If the PDF editor cannot split a flattened image, you must adjust the original document and re-export the PDF.
Easily Edit, Extract, and Organize PDF Images
WPS Office provides a comprehensive PDF Editor that allows you to effortlessly edit text, extract images, and manage your PDF layouts without complex tagging structures. It serves as a lightweight, user-friendly alternative to heavy PDF software.
- 1. Open your PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF file using the built-in WPS PDF Editor.
- 2. Enter Edit Mode: Navigate to the 'Edit' tab and click on 'Edit Content' to interact with individual images and text blocks.
- 3. Convert for Deep Editing: If the PDF is completely flattened, navigate to the 'Tools' tab and click 'PDF to Word' to convert the document.
- 4. Recreate and Export: Recreate or separate the graphics inside the converted Word document, then export it back to PDF using WPS Writer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PDF editor group all images into one?
This typically happens if the infographic was grouped, flattened, or saved as a single image format (like a PNG or JPEG) in the original authoring software before converting to PDF. The PDF generator treats it as a single object.
Can I split a single flattened image into multiple images inside a PDF?
Most PDF editors cannot natively split a single flattened image into multiple independent objects. You usually need to duplicate and crop the image multiple times or, preferably, recreate it in the source file.
How do I check if my PDF images have alternative text?
You can check this by running an Accessibility Check in your PDF editor, or by navigating to the Accessibility tags tree and reviewing the properties of each 'Figure' tag to ensure it contains an alternate text description.
Does converting the PDF to Word help with tagging?
Yes, converting a complex PDF to a Word document can allow you to easily delete the flattened graphic, insert separate images, assign alt text to each, and then re-export the document as a fully accessible PDF.
