Image Description

Use Image Description tools from the CircularFLO or GreenLight Accessibility Panels to define, view and amend alt tags and extended image descriptions.Overlaid frames display the alt tags applied to every image, or highlight images which are yet to be tagged, for easy checking, proofing and amendment.

Edit the overlaid text to add a new, spell-checked, alt tag image description.

Prepare and hand off a light package that includes image positions, ready for the bulk exporting and importing of image descriptions.

Brief and extended image descriptions may be attached to each image on the page, ensuring the best description within the context of the page and for the intended audience.

What is SIDD?

SIDD connects people, documents and images to a lightweight but powerful and centralized source for contextual image descriptions. Using the power of the web, SIDD brings structure and consistency to our image description workflows, creating a centralized repository for all of your accessible descriptions.

What are Image Descriptions?

• Alt Text: A brief textual description of the purpose and meaning of an image that lives within the HTML <alt> attribute. Alt text helps people using assistive technologies like screen readers quickly understand the most important and relevant details about the image.
• Extended Description (aka Long Description): A detailed textual description that continues the information provided in the alt text. An extended description is not required if alt text provides a sufficient text alternative to the image.

How does SIDD work?

Don't let that word database in SIDD (The Simple Image Descriptions Database) scare you!

By using Airtable (think of Airtable as Google docs x 100) we have an extremely easy to use, flexible and responsive online tool which can be linked to the images in your publications.

The SIDD description editor

SIDD comes with a ready made SIDD description editor. With this we have use a clean, easy to use, shareable online editor for viewing, adding and editing image descriptions.

As image descriptions are added using the SIDD description editor they are added to the SIDD database ready to be easily extracted or exported.

Do we have to change our workflow?

SIDD takes a lightweight approach and, by dealing purely with previews and information about your images and not the actual images themselves, it does not impose any changes to your workflow.

There is no need to move or rename any files, no need for large file transfers and no need to change your publishing workflow when using SIDD, unless you want to!

Is it secure?

Yes. Because SIDD is built using Airtable, which has the ability to add ownership and access levels, your information remains backed up and secure.

How much does SIDD cost?

The short answer is NOTHING! An Airtable account can be created free of charge and SIDD can be used on a free plan for up to 1000 current images by up to five collaborators in your workflow.

The SIDD template has been made freely available on Airtable for anyone to use.

Sounds great, how do I get started?

Start Simple

Once you have registered for Airtable and copied the free SIDD template, you have access to a simple structured base to add and share image descriptions.

You can also import Google Sheets, Excel docs or many other apps using a CSV file. SIDD data can also be exported out to CSV or even printed out if you really need to!

Get More Powerful

Using software tools to automate and integrate your documents and images with your SIDD makes it possible to prepare images for description in bulk and at speed.

• Scribely use SIDD to organize and share professional image descriptions, created by humans, with their publishing clients.
• Circular Software tools rapidly feed and retrieve previews and data with SIDD and automatically apply professional image descriptions within Adobe InDesign.

Want to support us or add to SIDD?

We want SIDD - The Simple Image Descriptions Database - to become a well known and widely used shared resource for image descriptions.

The best way to support SIDD is to use it, to share your experiences with us and share this information with others.

In order to upload previews to SIDD and retrieve descriptions from SIDD, follow these steps to link an InDesign document to a SIDD Base.

1. Prepare the reading order of your document
2. Carry out a one time set up of Airtable and connecting with Circular Software
3. Upload your document to MasterPlan
4. Duplicate the SIDD template
5. Use the SIDD (Simple Descriptions tool)

Prepare the reading order of your document

Add a reading order to your InDesign document with Circular Software Accessibility Tools. See the Introduction to Reading Order article.

The images and regions that are identified as part of the reading order are then ready to link to your SIDD.

Adding a reading order with Circular Software tools is a requirement before using SIDD within Circular Software.

Upload your document to MasterPlan

MasterPlan from Circular Software is a secure service to place searchable high quality previews from the inside pages of your publications into websites of your choice.

See more on the MasterPlan product page.

A MasterPlan is is a requirement before using SIDD within Circular Software.

Set up Airtable and connect with Circular Software

An Airtable account is required to use SIDD. A new account can be created free of charge.

Airtable 'Bases' contain all of the information needed for a particular project and Bases are kept in 'Workspaces'. A new SIDD Base is recommended for each document and if you are already an Airtable user we recommend that you create a new Workspace for SIDD Bases as you will be required to share access to this workspace with Circular Software. See more info in an Introduction to Airtable basics.

Add Circular Software as a collaborator by inviting help@circularsoftware.com as a Creator or Editor using the Invite by email option. See Invite your collaborators from Airtable.

SIDD takes a lightweight approach and deals purely with previews and information about your images and not the actual images themselves but if you do have any security concerns please contact us.

This step only needs to be done once.

Duplicate the SIDD Template

The SIDD template has been made freely available on Airtable for anyone to use. Each SIDD Base can be used on a free Airtable plan for up to 1000 current images by up to five collaborators in your workflow.

Click the 'Use template' button on the SIDD template page to add SIDD to your chosen Airtable workspace.

With the SIDD duplicated to your Airtable Base, rename the Airtable Base starting the name with the MasterPlan Job number (an ISBN is ideal) and then a short reference to the publication

Sharing previews of alt tags and extended descriptions for reviewers

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We recommend SIDD (The Simple Image Descriptions Database) for the best method of preparation, management and importing of image descriptions in bulk.

But… if you are unable to use SIDD there is an older, alternative method offered for preparing and import multiple image descriptions back into InDesign using a spreadsheet file.

Use the Prepare Images for Description tool to create a package of optimised images ready for bulk description on the dekstop along witha spreadsheet file (in .tsv format).

By keeping the structure of the exported TSV file intact, the descriptions can be edited then prepared for import.

Google Sheets:

1. From the File menu, select Download as then select Tab-separated values (.tsv, current sheet). This will download the currently selected sheet as a tab-separated .TSV file, inheriting the name of your spreadsheet. Select the Save as… or Save File As…command from your browser's File menu.
2. Name your file and specify the file type as a Text File (*.txt). Click Save.

Apple Numbers:

1. From the File menu, select Export To… then select TSV. This will save the currently selected sheet as a tab-separated .TSV file, inheriting the name of your spreadsheet.
2. Name your file and leave the settings as default (Text encoding UTF-8) specify the file type as a Text File (*.txt). Click Save.

Microsoft Excel:

1. Open the File menu and select the Save as...command.
2. In the Save as type drop-down box, select the Text (tab-delimited) (*.txt) option.
3. Select the Save button. If any warning messages pop up, select the OK or Yes button.

Once descriptions are prepared, use the Import image descriptions tool to bring in the image descriptions and auto apply them to each image.