[CEUD-ICT] WCAG 2.0 "Images of Text" guidelines, and text in logos

[Mark Magennis]

The WCAG2.0 statement of criteria 1.4.9 is:

1.4.9 Images of Text (No Exception): Images of text are only used for pure decoration or where a particular presentation of text is essential to the information being conveyed. (Level AAA)
Note: Logotypes (text that is part of a logo or brand name) are considered essential.

So logotypes can be considered essential and, as such, do not contravene this success criterion. Which puts you in the clear doesn't it?

Mark
 
On 19 Apr 2010, at 13:38, Alan M. Dalton wrote:

> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I'd appreciate your opinions on text in logos, and the Web Content
> Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. WCAG 2.0 has 2 guidelines that discuss
> using images of text. They are:
> - 1.4.5 Images of Text [1];
> - 1.4.9 Images of Text (No Exception) [2].
> 
> As Jeffrey Veen said in "The Art and Science of Web Design" (10 years ago),
> "Text is text. Graphics are graphics" [3]. WCAG 2.0 guideline 1.4.5
> basically says that webpages should have text instead of images of text,
> but that webpages can have images of text if the user will be able to
> change the appearance of that text, and that webpages can have images, such
> as logos, if the presentation of the text is essential. WCAG 2.0 guideline
> 1.4.9 is stricter, and basically says that webpages should have text
> instead of images of text, but that webpages can have images of text, such
> as logos, if the presentation of the text is essential.
> 
> I'm wondering about the text in logos such as ours (in the National
> Disability Authority) [4]. The top two-thirds of our logo has "n", "D", and
> "A" as large letters, in an unusual sans-serif font. The bottom thirds of
> our logo has the words "National Disability Authority" in a bold,
> sans-serif font, and the words "Údarás Náisiúnta Míchumais" in a sans-serif
> font. We use that logo on our headed paper, and in our publications and
> presentations. I think our website conforms to guidelines 1.4.5 and 1.4.9,
> even though there is text in our logo. I know a huge number of Irish
> websites have the same issue.
> 
> Has anybody any thoughts on that? I'd be interested to hear your opinions.
> 
> [1]
> http://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/visual-audio-contrast-text-presentation.html
> [2]
> http://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/visual-audio-contrast-text-images.html
> [3] http://thefarawayplaces.com/class/layout/1.html
> [4] http://www.nda.ie/resourcenew.nsf/images/ndalogo.gif
> 
> Regards,
> Alan.
> _
> Alan Dalton
> Accessibility Development Advisor for EtA http://www.nda.ie/eta
> Access Officer for NDA http://www.nda.ie
> 
> Address: National Disability Authority, 25 Clyde Road, Dublin 4.
> _
> 
> 
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