Accessible eBooks
PDF accessibility: making an existing PDF readable
Provisional summary of what this page will say about pdf accessibility.

01
What this is
PDF accessibility is the subject of this page. A production team reaches for it when a manuscript has to become a file a printer or a store will accept without argument.
The approved copy also has to cover PDF accessibility checker, PDF/UA, PDF remediation, Is my PDF WCAG compliant, How do you make a PDF accessible, each of which a publisher will expect this page to answer plainly rather than name in passing.
Nothing on this page has been reviewed. Its provenance is recorded as unverified in the content ledger until somebody signs it off.
The approved copy also has to cover PDF accessibility checker, PDF/UA, PDF remediation, Is my PDF WCAG compliant, How do you make a PDF accessible, each of which a publisher expects answered plainly rather than named in passing.
02
How it gets decided
Nothing on this page has been reviewed. Its provenance is recorded as unverified in the content ledger until somebody signs it off.
The approved copy also has to cover PDF accessibility checker, PDF/UA, PDF remediation, Is my PDF WCAG compliant, How do you make a PDF accessible, each of which a publisher expects answered plainly rather than named in passing.
Nothing on this page has been reviewed. Its provenance is recorded as unverified in the content ledger until somebody signs it off.
The approved copy also has to cover PDF accessibility checker, PDF/UA, PDF remediation, Is my PDF WCAG compliant, How do you make a PDF accessible, each of which a publisher expects answered plainly rather than named in passing.
03
Where it sits in the production line
Nothing on this page has been reviewed. Its provenance is recorded as unverified in the content ledger until somebody signs it off.
The approved copy also has to cover PDF accessibility checker, PDF/UA, PDF remediation, Is my PDF WCAG compliant, How do you make a PDF accessible, each of which a publisher expects answered plainly rather than named in passing.
Nothing on this page has been reviewed. Its provenance is recorded as unverified in the content ledger until somebody signs it off.
The approved copy also has to cover PDF accessibility checker, PDF/UA, PDF remediation, Is my PDF WCAG compliant, How do you make a PDF accessible, each of which a publisher expects answered plainly rather than named in passing.
04
Formats and the checks each one needs
Provisional paragraph. An approved version explains how pdf accessibility is decided in practice, who signs it off, and what a publisher has to supply before the work can start.
Provisional paragraph. It will set out where pdf accessibility sits in the production line, which steps depend on it, and what goes wrong downstream when it is skipped.
Provisional paragraph. The approved text names the file formats involved in pdf accessibility, the checks each one needs, and the point at which a title is considered finished.
Provisional paragraph. Here the approved copy answers the cost question about pdf accessibility honestly: what drives the price, what a publisher can do in-house, and what is worth buying.
05
What it costs, and what drives the cost
Provisional paragraph. It compares the common approaches to pdf accessibility, says which suits a small list and which suits a large one, and does not pretend the answer is the same for both.
Provisional paragraph. This is where the approved copy handles the edge cases in pdf accessibility — tables, formulas, footnotes, illustrations — rather than leaving them to a support ticket.
Provisional paragraph. The approved version records what a publisher should ask a supplier about pdf accessibility, and which answers should end the conversation.
Provisional paragraph. It explains how pdf accessibility is measured, what a reasonable turnaround looks like, and how a publisher can tell a good result from a merely finished one.
06
Comparing the usual approaches
Provisional paragraph. An approved version explains how pdf accessibility is decided in practice, who signs it off, and what a publisher has to supply before the work can start. (2)
Provisional paragraph. It will set out where pdf accessibility sits in the production line, which steps depend on it, and what goes wrong downstream when it is skipped. (2)
Provisional paragraph. The approved text names the file formats involved in pdf accessibility, the checks each one needs, and the point at which a title is considered finished. (2)
Provisional paragraph. Here the approved copy answers the cost question about pdf accessibility honestly: what drives the price, what a publisher can do in-house, and what is worth buying. (2)
07
Tables, formulas and the other edge cases
Provisional paragraph. It compares the common approaches to pdf accessibility, says which suits a small list and which suits a large one, and does not pretend the answer is the same for both. (2)
Provisional paragraph. This is where the approved copy handles the edge cases in pdf accessibility — tables, formulas, footnotes, illustrations — rather than leaving them to a support ticket. (2)
Provisional paragraph. The approved version records what a publisher should ask a supplier about pdf accessibility, and which answers should end the conversation. (2)
Provisional paragraph. It explains how pdf accessibility is measured, what a reasonable turnaround looks like, and how a publisher can tell a good result from a merely finished one. (2)
08
What to ask a supplier
Provisional paragraph. An approved version explains how pdf accessibility is decided in practice, who signs it off, and what a publisher has to supply before the work can start. (3)
Provisional paragraph. It will set out where pdf accessibility sits in the production line, which steps depend on it, and what goes wrong downstream when it is skipped. (3)
Provisional paragraph. The approved text names the file formats involved in pdf accessibility, the checks each one needs, and the point at which a title is considered finished. (3)
Provisional paragraph. Here the approved copy answers the cost question about pdf accessibility honestly: what drives the price, what a publisher can do in-house, and what is worth buying. (3)
09
How a good result is measured
Provisional paragraph. It compares the common approaches to pdf accessibility, says which suits a small list and which suits a large one, and does not pretend the answer is the same for both. (3)
Provisional paragraph. This is where the approved copy handles the edge cases in pdf accessibility — tables, formulas, footnotes, illustrations — rather than leaving them to a support ticket. (3)
Provisional paragraph. The approved version records what a publisher should ask a supplier about pdf accessibility, and which answers should end the conversation. (3) Provisional note 1: the approved copy will say more here about pdf accessibility than a placeholder can. Provisional note 2: the approved copy will say more here about pdf accessibility than a placeholder can. Provisional note 3: the approved copy will say more here about pdf accessibility than a placeholder can. Provisional note 4: the approved copy will say more here about pdf accessibility than a placeholder can. Provisional note 5: the approved copy will say more here about pdf accessibility than a placeholder can. Provisional note 6: the approved copy will say more here about pdf accessibility than a placeholder can. Provisional note 7: the approved copy will say more here about pdf accessibility than a placeholder can. Provisional note 8: the approved copy will say more here about pdf accessibility than a placeholder can. Provisional note 9: the approved copy will say more here about pdf accessibility than a placeholder can. Provisional note 10: the approved copy will say more here about pdf accessibility than a placeholder can. Provisional note 11: the approved copy will say more here about pdf accessibility than a placeholder can. Provisional note 12: the approved copy will say more here about pdf accessibility than a placeholder can. Provisional note 13: the approved copy will say more here about pdf accessibility than a placeholder can. Provisional note 14: the approved copy will say more here about pdf accessibility than a placeholder can. Provisional note 15: the approved copy will say more here about pdf accessibility than a placeholder can. Provisional note 16: the approved copy will say more here about pdf accessibility than a placeholder can. Provisional note 17: the approved copy will say more here about pdf accessibility than a placeholder can.
Nothing on this page has been reviewed. Its provenance is recorded as unverified in the content ledger until somebody signs it off.
Part of this guide
The Complete Guide to Accessible PublishingFrequently asked questions
How do you make a PDF accessible?
How do you make a PDF accessible? Provisional answer: the approved copy explains this in terms of pdf accessibility, with the detail a publisher can act on.
What is PDF/UA?
What is PDF/UA? Provisional answer: the approved copy explains this in terms of pdf accessibility, with the detail a publisher can act on.
Is my PDF WCAG compliant?
Is my PDF WCAG compliant? Provisional answer: the approved copy explains this in terms of pdf accessibility, with the detail a publisher can act on.
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