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Tip of the Week: Adding Alt Text to Images With Object Styles

This InDesign tip on adding alt text to images with object styles was sent to Tip of the Week email subscribers on March 30, 2017.

InDesignSecrets Tip of the Week

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One of the best things about sending out a Tip of the Week to thousands of savvy InDesign users is that you folks occasionally write back to me with cool ideas that build on the tip. This happened last week when I sent out a tip about adding alt text to images with object export options. I got an email back from Susan Krupkowski with her method for dealing with custom alt text for images.

She uses a library item with the alt text option already set to Custom with placeholder text.

indesign alt text library item

As well as an object style applied to the frame that specifies custom alt text.

indesign alt text object style

You could also use an object style to instantly set the alt text to the image’s title, etc.

indesign alt text style xmp title

And to make the whole workflow actually flow, she uses a custom keyboard shortcut to bring up the Object Export Options dialog box and replace the placeholder text.

indesign alt text keyboard shortcut

Thanks, Susan!

And the rest of you folks—if you have a cool tip, send it to me (email mike at indesignsecrets.com)! You just might see it in a future Tip of the Week.

Editor in Chief of CreativePro. Instructor at LinkedIn Learning with courses on InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, GIMP, Inkscape, and Affinity Publisher. Co-author of The Photoshop Visual Quickstart Guide with Nigel French.
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