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Styled Text instead of Graphic Text (when possible)
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5 of 6
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Students Affected: 
Principles: Follow Web Standards, Degrade Gracefully
What It Means
Special 
fonts and text effects (such as drop shadows) can be difficult to create on the Web. If you want a specific font or text effect, you may decide to use an image instead of regular text. But the image may pose a problem for users with limited vision who use a tool that increases page size in their browser.
If You Do It Wrong: Users with limited vision will have trouble reading the blurry graphic text.
| Example |
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| Original Graphic |
Graphic Increased 400% |
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| Original Text |
Text Increased 400% |
THIS IS TEXT
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THIS IS TEXT
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If You Do It Right: Your students can control the display of text based on their personal preferences. Text is legible when enlarged.
How It Works
- Try to use regular text before resorting to a graphic. You can approximate a great number of graphic font effects using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). For example, you can use CSS to create three-dimensional buttons with colored text on the top.
- High contrast between text and background colors makes Web pages easier to read.
- Relative units based on the browser defaults are much more accessible than specific point sizes.
- If you absolutely need a specific text style effect—such as a corporate logo—then you should use a graphic with an appropriate text equivalent.
Testing Tips
Use the zoom feature in the free Opera Web browser to magnify your Web page and see if the text is still legible.
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To use the Opera Web browser zoom feature:
- Open your Web page in the Opera browser.
- Select the "View" drop down menu, then select "Zoom."
- Select a value greater than 100% to magnify the page.
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