WCAG 1.4.9: Images of Text (No Exception)

Quick answer: At AAA, even more text should be real text rather than graphics, with very limited exceptions.

What This Means

On ecommerce sites, Images of Text (No Exception) usually shows up in repeating storefront components such as product cards, PDP media, search results, cart drawers, checkout forms, and support content. If the live experience depends on patterns like campaign landing pages export entire headline stacks as images. or faq accordions use screenshot-based text art instead of html headings., disabled shoppers can lose context or get blocked before purchase.

This criterion matters because D2C teams often fix the homepage but miss reusable app blocks, campaign pages, and mobile-specific UI. The practical standard is simple: build the same outcome for keyboard users, screen-reader users, low-vision users, and anyone relying on captions, labels, structure, or predictable behavior.

For Shopify, WooCommerce, and custom storefronts, the fastest remediation path is usually template-level work. Fix the repeated component once, then retest every place it appears across browse, buy, and post-purchase journeys.

Common Violations on Ecommerce Sites

• Campaign landing pages export entire headline stacks as images.
• FAQ accordions use screenshot-based text art instead of HTML headings.
• PDP lifestyle graphics contain the only care instructions in text art.
• Loyalty-tier descriptions are delivered as flat poster images.

How to Fix It

Start with the live customer journey, not isolated components in Storybook or Figma. Audit the problem on category pages, product detail pages, quick views, cart, checkout, account, and help templates.

1. Convert text-heavy creative assets into structured HTML components.
2. Keep only essential logos or artwork as image-based text.
3. Create reusable marketing sections that preserve styling without rasterizing words.
4. Work with growth teams so ads and landing pages stay editable and accessible.

On Shopify, fix the theme section or app block that repeats the defect. On WooCommerce and WordPress, update the template override or plugin output. In custom React or headless storefronts, move the fix into shared components so merchandisers cannot reintroduce the issue with every campaign.

Code Example

<!-- Before -->
<img src="loyalty-tiers.png" alt="Bronze, Silver, Gold">

<!-- After -->
<section><h2>Loyalty tiers</h2><ul><li>Bronze</li><li>Silver</li><li>Gold</li></ul></section>

Check if your store passes WCAG 1.4.9 → Free ADA Compliance Scan