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Adobe Creative Suite Accessibility

Create accessible content in InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and other Adobe applications.

Adobe InDesign

InDesign is excellent for creating accessible PDFs when used correctly.

Structure with Paragraph Styles

  • Create styles:Define paragraph styles for Heading 1, Heading 2, Body Text, etc.
  • Apply consistently:Use styles instead of manual formatting
  • Map to PDF tags:Edit Export Tagging Map styles to PDF tags

Setting Up Tag Export

  1. OpenWindow Styles Paragraph Styles
  2. Right-click a styleEdit [style name]
  3. Go toExport Tagging
  4. Set PDF Tag (e.g., "H1" for Heading 1)
  5. Repeat for all styles

Adding Alt Text

  1. Select the image
  2. Object Object Export Options
  3. Check "Alt Text Source: Custom"
  4. Enter your description
  5. For decorative images, check "Apply Tag: Artifact"

Articles Panel for Reading Order

  1. OpenWindow Articles
  2. Create a new article
  3. Drag content into the article in reading order
  4. InDesign will use this order when exporting to PDF

Tables in InDesign

  • Create tables usingTable Insert Table
  • Select header row(s), thenTable Convert Rows To Header
  • Headers will be properly tagged in the exported PDF

Exporting Accessible PDFs

  1. File Export(or Ctrl+E)
  2. Choose Adobe PDF (Interactive) or Adobe PDF (Print)
  3. In the export dialog:
    • Check "Create Tagged PDF"
    • Check "Use Structure for Tab Order"
    • Set "Bookmarks" to create from structure
  4. Verify the PDF in Acrobat Pro

Adobe Photoshop

Photoshop creates raster images that need alt text when placed in documents.

Color and Contrast

  • Check contrast:Use the Info panel to compare color values
  • Simulate color blindness:View Proof Setup Color Blindness (Protanopia/Deuteranopia)
  • Don't use color alone:Add patterns, labels, or icons to distinguish elements

Text in Images

Avoid text in images when possible.If you must include text:

  • Use high contrast (4.5:1 minimum)
  • Use large, clear fonts
  • Document the text in alt text or captions
  • Consider providing the text content separately

Exporting for Web

  • File Export Export As(or File Save for Web)
  • Use appropriate formats: PNG for graphics, JPEG for photos
  • Optimize file size without sacrificing readability
  • Remember: alt text is added where the image is placed, not in Photoshop

Creating Accessible Social Media Graphics

  1. Keep text minimal and large
  2. Ensure high contrast
  3. Document all text for alt text
  4. Test with color blindness simulation
  5. Leave space for platform UI elements

Adobe Illustrator

Illustrator creates vector graphics that can be made more accessible.

SVG Accessibility

SVG files can include accessibility information:

<svg role="img" aria-labelledby="title desc">
 <title id="title">Chart Title</title>
 <desc id="desc">Description of the chart...</desc>
 <!-- graphic content -->
</svg>

Adding Metadata in Illustrator

  1. File File Info
  2. Add Title and Description
  3. This metadata can be referenced for alt text

Exporting Accessible SVGs

  1. File Export Export As
  2. Choose SVG format
  3. In SVG Options:
    • Set "Responsive" for scalability
    • Include metadata if added

Creating Accessible Infographics

  • Use clear visual hierarchy
  • Don't rely on color alone for meaning
  • Include text labels directly on graphics
  • Create a text-based alternative version
  • Export at appropriate resolution

Adobe Premiere Pro

Create accessible video content with captions and audio descriptions.

Adding Captions

  1. Window Textto open captions panel
  2. Click "Create new caption track"
  3. Choose format (CEA-608 for broadcast, SRT for web)
  4. Add captions:
    • Click + to add a caption segment
    • Type the text
    • Adjust timing in the timeline

Caption Best Practices

  • Speaker identification:[John] or JOHN: for multiple speakers
  • Sound descriptions:[door slams] [music playing]
  • Line length:Maximum 2 lines, 32 characters each
  • Reading speed:150-160 words per minute maximum
  • Timing:Sync with speech, leave on screen 1-6 seconds

Transcription Workflow

  1. Window Text Transcribe Sequence
  2. Premiere creates automatic transcription
  3. Review and correct the transcript
  4. Click "Create Captions" to generate from transcript
  5. Adjust timing as needed

Exporting Captions

  • Open captions (burned in):Export with "Burn Captions Into Video" enabled
  • Closed captions (sidecar file):Export caption track as SRT or VTT
  • Provide both when possible

Adobe After Effects

Motion graphics and animations need accessibility considerations.

Reducing Motion Risks

  • Avoid flashing:No more than 3 flashes per second
  • Provide alternatives:Offer static versions when possible
  • Warn users:Add content warnings for intense motion
  • Consider prefers-reduced-motion:Create alternative animations for web

Text in Animations

  • Keep text on screen long enough to read
  • Use high contrast
  • Avoid text that moves too quickly
  • Provide transcripts for text-heavy animations

Color Considerations

  • Don't rely on color transitions alone to convey meaning
  • Test with color blindness simulation
  • Ensure sufficient contrast throughout animations

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Acrobat Pro is essential for checking and remediating PDF accessibility.

Accessibility Check

  1. Tools Accessibility Accessibility Check
  2. Select checking options (usually leave all checked)
  3. Click "Start Checking"
  4. Review the report and fix issues

Common Issues and Fixes

Issue Fix
Missing alt text Right-click image in Tags panel Properties Alt Text
Wrong reading order Use Order panel to drag elements into correct sequence
Missing title File Properties Description Title
Missing language File Properties Advanced Reading Options Language
Untagged content Use Reading Order tool or manually add tags

Reading Order Tool

  1. Tools Accessibility Reading Order
  2. Draw rectangles around content
  3. Click buttons to tag as Text, Figure, Table, etc.
  4. Use "Show Order Panel" to verify sequence

Full PDF Remediation Guide

Adobe Accessibility Checklist

InDesign

Images (Photoshop/Illustrator)

Video (Premiere Pro/After Effects)

PDFs (Acrobat)

Related Resources