Make & keep
Write useful alt text for a digitised photo strip
Describe the visible sequence so a reader can understand the scan without seeing it.
Alt text should convey what matters in the image, not guess who people are or repeat every pixel. Write it for the collection’s intended reader and keep uncertain identity separate from visible description.
Start with the sequence
Name the object as a four-frame photo strip, then describe the visible progression in order: for example, two people turn toward one another and smile. Mention a distinctive prop or backdrop only if it helps someone understand the change between frames.
Evidence: Accessibility guidance
Separate seeing from knowing
Use wording such as “a person in a striped shirt” when the name is uncertain. Put confirmed names, dates and source notes in catalogue fields with their evidence. Do not describe a guessed emotion, relationship or location as fact.
Read it aloud
Check that the description makes sense without the image and does not repeat adjacent catalogue text word for word. Keep the original scan available as the visual record, and label the alt text as an access description rather than a replacement for the object.
Sources & further reading
Sources for the specific facts and product descriptions above. Our worked examples, interpretations and practical suggestions are original editorial guidance.
- W3C WAI — Informative ImagesAccessibility guidance