Accessibility

Tagging Images as Figures in Adobe Acrobat

Last modified 6/22/2023

PDFs often contain images that can present significant accessibility challenges for individuals with visual impairments or other disabilities. To ensure inclusivity and equal access to information, it is essential to prioritize image accessibility in PDF documents. Sometimes images may be missing or mis-tagged in the Accessibility Tags Tree. You can use the Reading Order Tool to associated the Images to a tag in the tags tree.

Step 1: Open Tags Tree

Open the Accessibility Tags Tree.

Step 2: Open Reading Order Tool

Right click on the Tags tag. From the menu, choose Reading Order. The Reading Order Tool dialog will open.

Screenshot of the Adobe Acrobat Tag's Tree with Tags tag selected and Reading order highlighted in the menu

Step 3: Set Image as Figure

With your mouse, draw a box around the image. Return to the Reading Order Tool and select the Figure button.

Screenshot of Logo circled in Purple with Figure button circled in red.

A new <Figure> Tag will be added to the tags tree. Select the Close button to close the dialog.

What if the <Figure> tag does not appear in the Tags Tree?

The Reading Order Tool can be fickle. On some documents the <Figure> tag just doesn't get added to to the tags tree. In this case, as a last resort, add a new <Figure> tag to the tags tree in the place where the Figure should logically go. In the Object Properties dialog, add the alt text for the image. With this method, the content and tag are not associated but the image description will be read to screen reader.