Alt Text Not Displaying for EPS Files in PDF Export

[MrZZY]

I've been able to get alt text to display in PDF for JPG/PNG using 'Object' > 'Object Export Options' > 'Alt Text Source' > 'Custom', but any vector images (AI, SVG, EPS) in the same document doesn't show the alt text in the resulting PDF.

Is this normal?

<Title renamed by MOD>

[Willi Adelberger]

Avoid EPS asit is an archaic outdated file taype.  It does not support transparency or color management. It causes also other problems. Sice 2000 it is recommended not to use EPS anymore in InDesign. 
use PDF/X-4 or AI instead. 

[MrZZY]

Thanks, I'll look into that. AI does the same thing and will not show alt text.

[Willi Adelberger]

Then use PDF/X-4.  Only X-4 or native AI-PDF, which is technically the same. 

[MrZZY]

Thanks for your input Willi. I realise that I could convert these things into JPG or try PDF/X-4 alternatives as you suggest, but that's not my point. Why is it that vector image formats don't display Alt text in PDF after exporting like JPG and PNG do? I'm thinking of vector based iamges as 'images', I know they're not photographic, but if vectors are used for illustrations of any kind I would have thought that the ability to use alt text with them was good for accessibility etc. 

If there isn't a way to make vector images show alt text (if it's not a new bug, or it's like this by design for some reason I haven't understood) it would be handy to know why InDesign doesn't do this so that I can explain to clients who give me tons of EPS/SVG and ask for accessible PDFs why I had to spend chargeable hours converting all their files.

So, why no alt-text exported with vectors? Is it broken? Did it ever work?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@MrZZY

I'm on my phone so just brainstorming - what if you set Alt Text to a frame - then do Paste Into your vector file - nest / envelope it?

[MrZZY]

Hi Robert, I think you have to do this anyway, I can't add the alt-text to the context of the frame, only to the frame. All the successful alt-text outputted to PDF has been added to/via the frame. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Hi Robert, I think you have to do this anyway, I can't add the alt-text to the context of the frame, only to the frame. All the successful alt-text outputted to PDF has been added to/via the frame. 

By @MrZZY

Yes, but you can place an image - or vector file - "directly" to the frame - or you can place a file into a frame, then cut this frame and "Place Into" another frame. 

Top oval is directly on the page - the bottom one - is "Placed Into" the Rectangle.

[MrZZY]

I think I followed this correctly. Place vector into frame. Copy or Cut, select another frame, Paste Into.

This creates a similar looking graphic, but after applying alt-text to the frame, doesn't create it as alt-text again as far as i can tell. Very creative thinking though! 

Am I thinking about this right? In the resulting PDF, alt-text is what is shown when you mouseover an image and text appears in a yellow-background popup. This doesn't happen with vector in anything I've tried so far. Of course, I'm wondering now if the problem could be acrobat. InDesign might be exporting it ok.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@MrZZY 

Alt text applied to the "nest" - isn't displayed - only Alt text of the "nested" object - for bitmaps and vectors.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

[MrZZY]

Hi Robert, I'm so sorry, I've been trying to get my head around your explanation but I don't understand. I'm probably misunderstanding the fine detail of what you're showing in your image.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@MrZZY 

Sorry, I might be in the "shortcut mode" again.

If you check my last screenshot - you can see each object in the document - and its Alt Text.

The previous screenshot - from Acrobat - shows only Alt Texts that are displayed after export.

It looks like it is working for me perfectly fine?

What are your export options?

Can you describe step by step what you are doing?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@MrZZY 

OK, I've tested - with PDF and nesting:

This is from Acrobat - I'm not including nested version - as it doesn't display Alternative text - so it won't work - but works for the PDF.

[Willi Adelberger]

Not using EPS is solving many problems. You can put existing EPS on Acrobat Distiller and run automatically converting. Turn of recalculating images to avoid quality decrease. Of course they are not PDF/X-4. But from postscript you won't get them anyway, but they are better than EPS. 
And yes, you should inform your clients that EPS or SVG are not a good idea to use, specially not for print. 

[MrZZY]

Hi Willi, this is the same for ".ai". Please ignore the thing about EPS, yes it's the same with EPS. But it looks like it's all vector formats.

[Scott Falkner]

Perhaps (this is just speculation) it’s because placed vector are no longer a self contained group in a PDF, but are a collection of shapes. Draw two circles in Illustrator and place that in InDesign, then draw two identical circles in InDesign. In the PDF you will have four circles, not a circle, a circle, and a pair of circles. Alt text either cannot be applied to a group of mixed objects (paths, text, images) or it can, but InDesign lacks the feature.

A placed image in InDesign becomes an embedded image in the PDF, which can have Alt text applied.

If I’m correct then converting your EPS files to PDF or Illustrator native format won’t fix your problem.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Scott Falkner

But if you place a file - link a file, not copy&paste - it doesn't become "native" in InDesign? You can't get into its contents?

As I've tested - it works perfectly fine for PDFs placed in InDesign - so there must be something else wrong with OP's InDesign / export. 

[MrZZY]

@Robert at ID-Tasker  No alt-text here on PDFs placed as file in InDesign when exported as PDF (even though jpg alt-text etc is always honoured. Which version are you using Robert. I'm on 2025

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Robert at ID-Tasker  No alt-text here on PDFs placed as file in InDesign when exported as PDF (even though jpg alt-text etc is always honoured. Which version are you using Robert. I'm on 2025

By @MrZZY

2024 / 19.5

Can later check on 2025. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@MrZZY 

Works perfectly fine in 2025 - on Windows.

[Scott Falkner]

No, it does not become native in InDesign. But when you export to PDF the paths are native to PDF. The PDF doesn’t know the Illustrator file was a separate file placed in the source.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Scott Falkner

I know, but from your explanation it sounds like contents of the placed file become native in InDesign.

[Joel Cherney]

I'm pretty certain that Scott is correct, here. One of my client's clients frequently places EPS, adds a text frame with a bit of text, then groups them together. The alt text is applied to the group in the Object Export Options. Seems to export w/alt text without issue. 

[Laubender]

Hi @MrZZY ,

indeed that's an issue. My workaround would be a dummy image file with no drawing pixels at all that is stacked above the vector graphic. In my test case a PhotoShop image with transparency only, 100 x 100 px:

Acrobat is showing the alt text of the frame holding the transparent image:

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )