SSA aims to ensures inclusivity and equal access for millions of readers. The SSA journals request that authors include “alt-text” for figures, which is short text about an image, figure, or graphic that is read by screen readers or other assistive tech and provides information to the reader. In order to make sure that alt-text is part of the peer review process and exported correctly to the compositor, we are asking authors to provide this text for figures, images, or graphics during submission.

Alt-text is different from a caption in that it describes what the reader would see in the image.

Authors should provide the alt-text on a separate line after the figure caption within the article, so that the alt text can be associated with the respective figure. Alt-text should be no longer than 700 characters.

Here are a few additional guidelines:

• Alt text should not repeat the figure caption that is already provided in the text.
• The alt text should be concise and to the point.
• Alt text should refer to relevant content provided by the image, rather than simply describing how the image looks.
• Avoid unnecessary phrases: Don’t start with “image of” or “picture of” as screen readers already identify it as an image
• Avoid text-as-image or embedded text within images. These will not be picked up by screen reading devices and cannot be scaled for readers who may increase the text size.

Frequently Asked Questions about Alt-Text

Why are we adding “alt-text”?

The SSA journals are taking steps to comply with the European Accessibility Act (EAA), which aims to ensure inclusivity and equal access for millions of readers. One of the first steps we are taking is adding “alt-text” to figures, which provides information about the image to the reader and can be read by screen readers or other assistive technology. In order to make sure that alt-text is part of the peer review process and exported correctly to the compositor, we are asking authors to provide this text for figures during submission.

What is “alt-text”?

Alt-text is short text about an image, figure, or graphic that appears in an online article or webpage that can be read by screen readers or other assistive tech and provides information to the reader. It is different from a caption in that it describes what the reader would see in the image.

How does a screen reader work?

The technology reads out loud what is on the screen, which allows users to navigate through the website. When the screen reader reaches an image, it will read the alt text for that image so the user can know what the image is meant to convey.

Do you have any examples?

Here are a few examples of short alt-text:

• “Line graph showing seismic wave arrival times at different distances, indicating the presence of a subsurface boundary at approximately [Depth] kilometers.”
• “Geological map of the [Region Name] area, showing the distribution of [Formation 1], [Formation 2], and [Formation 3] along the [Feature 1] fault system.”
• “Diagram of a stratigraphic column from [Location], illustrating rock layers from oldest at the bottom to youngest at the top, including [Layer A] with embedded fossils, [Layer B] composed of volcanic ash, and [Layer C] consisting of sedimentary rock.”

I am a reviewer – what should I look for in the alt-text?

Reviewers should note to the authors if alt-text has not been provided or if it duplicates what is in the caption. The figure captions and titles are also read by screen-readers, so it is not necessary to provide the same text in both places.

Will the alt-text appear in the PDF?

No, the alt-text is only for the online version of an article. However, it will appear in the author proofs with the author queries so that the text can be reviewed. The final printed article and PDF will not display alt-text.

Is it mandatory to provide alt-text?

Using alt-text helps to ensure equal access for millions of readers who use screen adaptive technology, and we hope to make this a standard part of submissions in the future. However, as we get used to the new submission item, papers will not be returned if this is not provided at first submission. Authors will be prompted at various points during review to add this text if it is missing.

I still have questions! Who can help me?

The editorial office is happy to help and can answer any additional question you may have. Please email BSSA (BSSAmss@seismosoc.org), SRL (srl@seismosoc.org), or TSR (tsr@seismosoc.org) with any questions about your submission.