Download - Adding ALT Tags

Adding ALT TagsAdding ALT TagsAdding ALT TagsAdding ALT Tags

To PowerPoint PresentationsTo PowerPoint Presentations

What is an ALT tag?

• It describes the graphic used in your presentation to people using screen readers.

• You only need ALT tags for those images that are important to your presentation

What is a screen reader?

• It is a device used by people who have severe visual impairments to read the screen of the computer.

• JAWS is one example of a screen reader

Example Page

Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb

Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow

Adding the ALT tag for the web

• Right-click on the picture



• Click on “Format Picture…”



• Click on “Format Picture…”

• Click on the “Web” tab


• Write a short description of the picture

• Click “0k”


• You have added an ALT tag and earned 1 extra credit point!

• YOU won’t be able to see your ALT tag unless you convert your PowerPoint presentation to the web.

• Go to the next slide to see another way to add ALT tags to presentations

Adding the ALT tag for the presentation

Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb

Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow


• To do this, we are going to use a “hack” (a technical term)


• Click the Insert menu at the top of the screen

• Click “Text Box”


• Click the Insert menu at the top of the screen

• Click “Text Box”• Notice how your

cursor changes, click on the picture


• Type your ALT tag on top of the picture

• Highlight the ALT tag text

Leaping little white lamb


• Type your ALT tag on top of the picture

• Highlight the ALT tag text

• Click the “Font Color” button



• Change the font color so that it matches your background

• Move the text so that it disappears


That’s it

• The screen reader will read the invisible text even though others can not see it.

• …and even if your presentation is NOT converted to a webpage.