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# 1.4.5 Images of Text

- Level: AA
- Guideline: 1.4 Distinguishable
- Principle: 1 Perceivable

## What it is

If the technologies being used can achieve the visual presentation, text is used to convey information rather than images of text except for the following:

- **Customizable:** The image of text can be visually customized to the user's requirements;
- **Essential:** A particular presentation of text is essential to the information being conveyed.

## How to test

- Check: The image of text can be visually customized to the user's requirements;
- Check: A particular presentation of text is essential to the information being conveyed.
- Use the sufficient techniques below as acceptable methods when applicable.

## Sufficient techniques (W3C)

- C22: Using CSS to control visual presentation of text
- C30: Using CSS to replace text with images of text and providing user interface controls to switch
- G140: Separating information and structure from presentation to enable different presentations
- PDF7: Performing OCR on a scanned PDF document to provide actual text

## Advisory techniques (W3C)

- C12: Using percent for font sizes
- C13: Using named font sizes
- C14: Using em units for font sizes
- C8: Using CSS letter-spacing to control spacing within a word
- C6: Positioning content based on structural markup

## Notes

- Note: Logotypes (text that is part of a logo or brand name) are considered essential.

## Resources

- WCAG 2.2 SC: https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/#images-of-text
- Understanding: https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG22/Understanding/images-of-text.html
- Quick reference: https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG22/quickref/?versions=2.2#images-of-text

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