Describing Colour in Images

We only describe colour if when it adds meaning to the image. Remember, Alt-text replaces an image with text. It is a common mistake to presume people with print disabilities do not care about colour.

The most common would include:

• clothes
• buildings
• cars
• animals
• hair
• plants
• sky

We describing colour, stick to the facts and remain objective. The more direct you are the better. Avoid descriptors that invoke an emotional response, unless it is used in the surrounding text. Ask yourself: What about this colour invokes an emotional response? It is a bright and vibrant red dress? Then describe it as so to allow the reader to come to their own conclusions.

For a list of colour related words please see the Alt-text Glossary.

There is no way to know exactly what a colour is when an image is in black and white. There is also no reason to have to describe the full black to grey to white scale across all the images.

When referring to colour in a black and white image stick to the following descriptors:

• Light
• Medium
• Dark

If you are describing something like the sky in a black and white image, avoid colour unless it is a night sky. Use descriptors like:

• Pale/Bright
• Night (dark/black is okay. You can also describe the stars if they are clear in the image.)
• Cloudy (if clear in context)
• Clear (if clear in context)