AccessBell
Dashboard Start free trial
Perceivable · Distinguishable

WCAG 1.4.5 Images of Text

Use real text styled with CSS instead of an image of text wherever possible, since images of text cannot be resized, recolored or read aloud accurately.

1.4.5 Level AA Added in WCAG 2.0 Needs manual review

Anton StewartAuthor
Reviewed against the W3C Understanding document
Illustration: a high contrast symbol, with WCAG 1.4.5 and Images of Text
Table of contents

What WCAG 1.4.5 Requires

Use real text styled with CSS instead of an image of text wherever possible, since images of text cannot be resized, recolored or read aloud accurately.

How to Test It by Hand

Look for headings, buttons or callouts that are actually images rather than styled text.

Common Failures

  • A promotional banner is a single image containing the headline text, unreadable at high zoom and by screen readers.

Testing WCAG 1.4.5 With AccessBell

This criterion depends on meaning or context, so it needs a person to judge. AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail automatically, so it is not missed.

Run a free scan to spot issues on your own pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does WCAG 1.4.5 require?

Use real text styled with CSS instead of an image of text wherever possible, since images of text cannot be resized, recolored or read aloud accurately.

Can AccessBell test WCAG 1.4.5 automatically?

Not fully. This criterion needs a person to judge, so AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail on its own.

What level is WCAG 1.4.5?

Level AA, added in WCAG 2.0. Level AA is the level referenced by the ADA, Section 508 and most accessibility laws.

Sources

This page explains a technical standard and is not legal advice. See our disclaimer.

About the Author

Anton StewartAuthor

Contributor, AccessBell

Anton Stewart writes and reviews accessibility guides for the AccessBell blog, checked against the W3C standards and other primary sources.

Check Your Site Against WCAG 1.4.5

Run a free scan to spot 1.4.5 Images of Text issues and every other automated WCAG check, then get help fixing them.

Start 3-day free trial Run a free scan

Pro is a 3-day free trial, then $29 per domain per month or $199 per year. You add a card at checkout and are not charged until the trial ends. Cancel before then and you will not be charged.

Not ready for a subscription? A Page Report is $19 for one page, and a Domain Audit is $79 for up to 500 pages.