CBreeze27
Emma KennedyTip for newbies: filling in the text description for pics posted is, I have learned, really appreciated. There’s a sizeable community of the visually impaired over here and doing it means they’re not excluded. Also, it’s fun to do. If you’re on your phone, tap on the pic and start typing. (I didn’t realise I could go that) On the desktop app you’re given a prompt. It’s super easy.
Heather Rufus@EmmaKennedy ahhh. Thanks
Bigbreakfast@EmmaKennedy In addition, people can follow @PleaseCaption (and let the bot follow them back) to get a reminder if they post an image without description
James Tweedie (has moved)@Bigbreakfast_Irl @EmmaKennedy
I've found this to be a useful reminder if you are using an App such as Tusky...
I've found this to be a useful reminder if you are using an App such as Tusky...
RarityMonk@Bigbreakfast_Irl @EmmaKennedy
Great, thanks for this tip. For fellow Mastodon newbies the full bot address is @PleaseCaption #accessibility
BensGreenGamingAc@EmmaKennedy I discovered today that Metatext (one of the iOS Mastodon clients) can do OCR on screenshots etc - really helps on the long walls of text.
Chris Merriman ⁉️@EmmaKennedy Wise counsel.
Dr David Nicholl@EmmaKennedy I can’t seem to post ANY pics from my iPhone or iPad? Can only do from a desktop….what am I doing wrong? #mastodon
W Millard@djnicholl @EmmaKennedy same here
@oddjob @EmmaKennedy though strangely I was able to change my pic on my bio just…I can’t toot a photo. Odd
stevenheywood@oddjob @djnicholl @EmmaKennedy
It could be the app you're using. I had that problem with the Mastodon app but not haven't (touch wood) with Tusky. If the uploading process takes any time to complete the Mastodon app seems to throw up its hands in horror and gives up.
It could be the app you're using. I had that problem with the Mastodon app but not haven't (touch wood) with Tusky. If the uploading process takes any time to complete the Mastodon app seems to throw up its hands in horror and gives up.
Cliff Grainger@djnicholl @EmmaKennedy David I was wondering if it’s to do with the server space your instance is in. Have seen one or two commenting that with the influx they are struggling for space and requesting not posting big files like video. Perhaps until they can upgrade there is a restriction. Purely speculation on my part. Hope you well btw. Nice to see you here.
@cliffgrainger @EmmaKennedy actually I think that is the most likely explanation
Lugnut@EmmaKennedy @djnicholl might be the app you’re using. Try a web version on your iPhone and if that works then try a different app. I’m using Metatext. If the web version doesn’t work maybe it’s a setting on your iPhone that needs changing, ‘allow this app to access photos’ type of thing
Giselle's very old account@djnicholl
I don't know about ipad compatibility (can someone else advise?), but I'm pretty sure that you should be able to post photos from your iphone. The problem could be that so many of the bigger servers are working very hard to cope with the huge incoming wave of new accounts. I would try again later. if still an issue, google to see if there is a setting that you can change but I don't expect that's the issue.
I don't know about ipad compatibility (can someone else advise?), but I'm pretty sure that you should be able to post photos from your iphone. The problem could be that so many of the bigger servers are working very hard to cope with the huge incoming wave of new accounts. I would try again later. if still an issue, google to see if there is a setting that you can change but I don't expect that's the issue.
Splashman@EmmaKennedy thanks for the tip, think I like it here.
Oliver Romain 🏴🇪🇺 ☮️@EmmaKennedy the iOS app has a prompt too.
Andy@EmmaKennedy This lovely exchange popped up in my timeline yesterday related to this very subject. It captured the kind and mutually respectful nature of this place.
Luis Levy@EmmaKennedy I've been using the text descriptions/captions almost as writing prompts. It's fun to go and try to describe the images/illustrations that go with the typical post -- from more standard stuff like screenshots to memes.
Supermouse The Rodent@atmanrising This is exactly what I love about it too. It's art on art.
Also, even as a sighted person, it's sometimes handy to be able to read what I'm supposed to be seeing!
@Supermouse Yeah, it's super useful. Just like watching TV shows and movies with captions!
Dave Hounslow@EmmaKennedy on Twitter there was a useful bot "alttext reminder" that would message you if you forgot the alt text to encourage the habit.
Is there an equivalent here?
Matt
FiXato
Nigel K@EmmaKennedy also if you want an emoji but don’t know how to find one, type a : then the emoji type you want. EG :rose brings up a couple of choices 👍️
Zelda@EmmaKennedy Thank you for the advice! Very helpful
Sir Vic Meldrew 💭@EmmaKennedy we are still learning each day on @Mastodon but it's a freshing change to twitter 😉
Phil Smythe@EmmaKennedy it can also be an Easter egg for sighted people. Great descriptions say not just what the picture is can also add some insights by the author.
Marsupial Robot@psmythe @EmmaKennedy
Yes! I don’t have vision problems (well, as long as I wear my glasses or contacts), but I love looking at the descriptions that people write of their photographs or artwork. It tells me what they think is important in the image, as well as the tone that they mean to convey.
Also, because there are many visually impaired people here, many of us will not boost posts with images that do not have descriptions. #AltText
Yes! I don’t have vision problems (well, as long as I wear my glasses or contacts), but I love looking at the descriptions that people write of their photographs or artwork. It tells me what they think is important in the image, as well as the tone that they mean to convey.
Also, because there are many visually impaired people here, many of us will not boost posts with images that do not have descriptions. #AltText
geobeck 🏳️🌈@EmmaKennedy It's also a good way to add an attribution or photo credit.
Seprothia@EmmaKennedy And if you want examples of how #AltText can provide a whole new depth to the image content...highly recommend checking out how Whores of Yore uses it! (I think only on twtr currently) https://twitter.com/WhoresofYore
Kasiawrites@seprothia @EmmaKennedy that’s an awesome account that is killing it with the alt descriptions!
JenniSmith (she/her)@seprothia @EmmaKennedy NASA also writes amazing alt text.
Bevis Musson@EmmaKennedy Also make sure you capitalise each word in hashtags. If you do that automatic readers can still read them properly, if you don't then it tries to read the whole hashtag as a single word.
MrsB #FBPE #GTTO 🇪🇺💙@EmmaKennedy That's a useful tip. Thanks Emma.
TheGurkha 🇬🇧🇺🇦@EmmaKennedy And you're right, it is super appreciated.
Glenn Le Santo@EmmaKennedy I really enjoy writing the Alt text. It’s great to practice art of descriptive writing.
Rab Bruce’s Spider@EmmaKennedy Thanks for your support in this. 1 of the new habits I think I’m going to adopt is to unfollow people who refuse to add image descriptions. No matter how interesting your posts may be, undescribed photos really drain your enthusiasm when you can’t see. Thanks again for highlighting this.
marcellagolan@EmmaKennedy I love this feature, although seem to not be able to load photos more often than not for some bizarre reason.
Guirisimo@EmmaKennedy @coldwarsteve is going to spend more time in a text editor than photoshop.
Gary JohnstoneThat's super useful. Thanks.
Henrik Johansson@EmmaKennedy l never used to do it with other social media, but here I did it with my first photo and it was indeed fun. I guess I leveled up 0.1 in human behavior when coming here?
@EmmaKennedy And this morning it has allowed me to post a pic again, it’s been very hit and miss, but this site is new and we need patience as they are doing a great job! 💫
@EmmaKennedy can you see the alt text in photos without a reader? I’ve been trying to figure out how to add/view them since I joined
Elke Koessling-Winzer@kasiawrites @EmmaKennedy If you tap on a photo it shows the text at the bottom.
@Elkewinzer @EmmaKennedy hmmm I’ve tried and nothing. Maybe I’m looking at pics without alt test? I just uploaded a pic and added alt test to test it and I can’t see that one either. Maybe it’s a glitch?
@kasiawrites @EmmaKennedy It seems to depend on the app. I just checked a photo I posted: The ALT text is visible on the Metatext app, but not on the Mastodon app.
@Elkewinzer @EmmaKennedy got it! I guess it’s still a work in progress!
@kasiawrites @EmmaKennedy I agree. I prefer the Mastodon app for reading my feed, but tend to head over to Metatext when I post photos… We’ll get there! Eventually…
JinxMeister@kasiawrites @Elkewinzer @EmmaKennedy
I can’t see them either… not on my attempt to do one, or on other peoples
I can’t see them either… not on my attempt to do one, or on other peoples
@jinxmeister @kasiawrites @EmmaKennedy It seems to depend on the app: Metatext shows them, Mastodon doesn’t. This screenshot is from the Metatext app.
@kasiawrites on a desktop browser it's usually a matter of hovering over the image.
With mobile apps you tend to have to tap on (and potentially hold) the image.
@EmmaKennedy
With mobile apps you tend to have to tap on (and potentially hold) the image.
@EmmaKennedy
annaraven@kasiawrites @EmmaKennedy If you hover over a pic, you'll get the alt=text popping up.
Chris Treece@EmmaKennedy you are rapidly becoming the Queen of Mastodon, Emma, but the 'tap/type' instruction isn't working for me 🤔
@christreece @EmmaKennedy On the Metatext app you get a panel next to the picture. If there is text on the image it can read and import it. On the Mastodon app there is a line on the bottom of the image where you can asd your text. It’s a bit more fiddly, but workable.
Tasha@EmmaKennedy thanks for the tip!
MagsLHalliday@EmmaKennedy I did a thread on it. I use the Metatext app for Mastodon but it will be similar on other apps. https://mstdn.social/@magslhalliday/109318616749164414
MagsLHalliday (@[email protected])
Attached: 2 images This screenshot is in the Metatext app. When I load an image, I get a little box marked “uncaptioned”. When I tap that I get a field where I can put in a description. Click Done and you’re done.
Mozzarella Mommy@EmmaKennedy it's also helpful for saving bandwidth. Some clients will let you see the description and then choose to download the image or not.