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finishwhatyoustarted-event · 13 days ago

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Tools Tuesday - Artistic Resources - April 22

It's Tools Tuesday! I haven’t seen much activity in our artists’ section this time, but I’ll put these resources out there in case it sparks someone stuck in a rut.

Principles of design https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/principles-of-design-understanding-the-basics.html https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-principles-design-how-use-them-your-creations-mohit-rana-

Using contrast to make a focal point https://bsky.app/profile/scoutrager.bsky.social/post/3lew2xdcwo226

This two-part thread gives a really concise breakdown to composing a piece of art with characters. I love the explanation and examples it gives for different elements. It’s good to bounce between composition ideas and pose references for cohesive looks. https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/111570426

Speaking of poses, while you can get real life, media, or stock photo inspiration, there are those that make taking pose-reference photos their job. One that I personally really like and support is AdorkaStock. She brings in a variety of models, and has years of archived poses. Check out that extensive gallery! https://www.adorkastock.com/hub/

TrueRef is one I just discovered! https://bsky.app/profile/trueref.bsky.social

PoseManiacs is also a cool one to look at. They color code different muscle groups, making it a little easier to isolate parts of the body (just note their 3D models are basically skinless humans, if that is something that freaks you out) https://www.posemaniacs.com/

If using plain 3D models works better for you, people like Pan might be a better resource. https://www.kamitokatachi.com/ And if you use Clip Studio Paint, there are tons of poseable 3D models available on the Clip Store.

Let’s say you have a pose in mind, but just can’t find the exact angle you need. Pose aggregation sites can help you fine-tune what you’re looking for by finding photos that match a criteria. For human heads and facial expressions, there’s Reference Angle http://referenceangle.com

For lighting faces, https://williamnguyen.artstation.com/projects/6a0Par

For posing entire human bodies, isolated by joint or limb, there’s Pose Search https://x6ud.github.io/pose-search

And for animal heads at every angle, there’s there’s x6udpngx https://x6ud.github.io/#/

For shapes, try https://eyes.training/intersections/ to see how things interact and intersect.

Hopefully some of these reference sources will help you finesse your artwork, or give you that inspiration to finish! What inspires you in a piece? Do you find the pose first, or craft a vibe and search for just the right positioning to fit it?

Tools Tuesday is a weekly part of the Finish What You Started event where I share various resources I have found to help everyone complete their WIP. Have a resource you want to share? Send it in a message and I’ll take a look!

#tools tuesday #finish what you started 2025

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finishwhatyoustarted-event · 18 days ago

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Finished It Friday - April 18

Finished It Friday is a weekly post rounding up everything that was finished during this past week of our event. See more on the bsky page!

Did I miss your work? Message me and I'll make sure it ends up on the next FIF!

Old Wounds… And Fresh Ones, Too by TheStarGayzingEtherianCollection (TheStarGayzingEtherian)

Content warning: graphic depictions of violence - She-Ra and the Princesses of Power - Rated T - Adora/Catra, Bow/Glimmer - Post-Canon, Blood and Injury, Stabbing, Dark Comedy, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Sharing a Bed - "With the two of them now sharing the same bed, Catra finds herself again having to put up with Adora’s sleep-fighting habit. What Catra doesn’t expect… is the knife that Adora still keeps under her pillow. (Catradora, Canon, Angst/Fluff/Hurt/Comfort)"

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64705279

#finish what you started 2025 #finished it friday

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finishwhatyoustarted-event · 20 days ago

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Tools Tuesday - Fiber and Fabric Craft Support + What To Do During Breaks - April 15

Happy Tools Tuesday, everyone! Today’s topic is especially for all the yarn and fabric crafters participating and sharing their progress in the discord!

Just like with any other medium, it can be easy to get into the flow when working on a physical craft project, and totally lose track of time - only to reap the consequences of cramped muscles and aches. That’s why setting a timer can be a great strategy. There are many guides online about different work-break timer strategies; my personal favorite are these Pomodoro timers from How To ADHD, which have break timers built into the video (and no annoying clock sounds except when the timer is about to end)

(though I admit, I also have a habit of “timing” myself by watching episodes of a show, then forgetting to stretch in between!)

Figuring out what balance of time will depend on you, your mood, and your project. But sometimes, “taking a break” is too nebulous a concept. What could a break entail?

The annoyingly simple answer is: it varies! The long answer is figuring out what works for you.

I try to remember to check in with my body during a break and address basic needs I neglected while focused. Ask yourself:

Are you hungry?

Are you thirsty?

Do you need to use the bathroom?

Are there any physical aches?

Are you curled up oddly?

Do your eyes feel strained?

Addressing 1, 2, and 3 are simple but easily forgotten. For 4, I have shared a sheet on some common stretches previously, but there are a wealth of stretches, yoga poses, and exercises recommended for knitters, crocheters, and sewists.

As with any exercise, be aware of your body and mindful to not hurt yourself!

This video has some hand stretches not covered in previous posts here.

youtube

And here’s a full playlist of yoga moves put out by the yarn brand Lion Brand, aimed at knitters and crocheters. Many of the moves are designed to be done from a chair, so you don’t even have to get up if all you need to do during your break is stretch!

Many back stretches covered in that playlist also help with 5, posture. If you find you’re curling uncomfortably over your work, or that your hands regularly ache after crafting, perhaps it is your tools that need to step up their game. A little support can go a long way.

I often crochet with a pillow on my lap, to keep my hands up in a comfortable, relaxed position, and to keep me from leaning too far forward. A rolled up blanket or long plushie can do the same job. Ergonomic shaped needles and hooks can help if your hands cramp when working or you find you have to tightly grip the tools. Likewise, supportive gloves or wrist braces can aid when repetitive motions make your wrist ache. Better lighting or magnifiers make seeing stitches easier.

There should be no shame in using assistive devices! Do whatever you need to do to take care of yourself while you create!

For 6, eye strain, we can forget this can be an issue even when not working at a computer. The 20-20-20 idea (look at something 20ft away for 20 seconds after 20 minutes of close-up focus) goes for reading a book or doing crafts as well. Anything where you’re staring at something right in front of you for a long time can make your eyes ache. I really liked this video that goes over ways to mitigate eyestrain from a computer, as well as some exercises that I regularly do myself when I feel my eyes get sore.

youtube

Adding additional lighting can also help prevent eyestrain. If you find the light gives you a headache, try swapping the bulbs for something of a different color (warmer/cooler), or changing where the source sits. Sometimes I wear a visor when working with bright overhead shop lights.

As always, these tips are just my personal recommendations that you can use as starting off points for finding what works for you. Your breaks don’t need to be structured to be beneficial. Moving your body in a change of scenery to get a snack might be all you need. Or you could start a load of laundry and work while it’s going, which gives you a timer and a different physical task to do during your break when it’s ready to be hung/changed to the other machine.

Do whatever works for you, just please take care of yourself! We artists might suffer for our art, but creating art shouldn’t make you suffer.

Got any tips or resources? Or a tool that helped you craft more comfortably that you think others should know about? Share it in the comments or reblogs!

#finish what you started 2025 #tools tuesday #Youtube

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finishwhatyoustarted-event · 25 days ago

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Finished It Friday - April 11

Finished It Friday is a weekly post rounding up everything that was finished during this past week of our event. See more on the bsky page!

Did I miss your work? Message me and I'll make sure it ends up on the next FIF!

Animatic

NSFW, content warnings: body horror, Nudity, Graphic Violence, torture, harm to animals - the magnus archives - M-16 - additional tags include: Police Brutality, Murder, Bugs, Spiders, Snakes, Dehumanization, Clowns, Self-Mutilation, canon-typical the horrors content

Fiber Arts

friendship bracelet by Léto le Gaosaure on discord, using this pattern: http://friendship-bracelets.net/68237

#finished it friday #finish what you started 2025

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finishwhatyoustarted-event · 27 days ago

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Tools Tuesday - Style Sheets - April 8

Another Tools Tuesday focused on writers! This week, let’s talk about style sheets. This is a great tool both for while you’re writing your first draft and while you’re editing.

What is a style sheet? Basically, it’s a guide you create to make names, grammar style, and other pieces consistent throughout your work. This link explains it well.

How can this help writing fanfiction? Having an easily accessible list of names for people and places spelled correctly, with basic pertinent details, can be a life saver for dealing with a large cast. It’s especially helpful if the names are in a language you don’t speak.

This helps with capitalization of titles, nicknames, and social hierarchy. You can also keep a map or timeline in your style sheet for quick reference if you repeatedly find yourself looking at locations in relation.

I also like to put in a section of canon dialogue and descriptions for the character(s) I’m writing. This helps me remember what details I should include, as well as how their voice is portrayed by the author. If you’re working from a visual medium, you could put screenshots of any outfits or key details you want to include. This veers slightly away from the standard style sheet, but I find it most helpful to have all of my references in one place.

Currently, I've been doing this for my larger projects with a site called Milanote. I like that it lets me have notes and visual references alongside a longer document. In the past, I have also made a style sheet using GDocs and Word-equivalent software like OpenOffice Writer.

If you are interested in using Milanote, and you don't already have a friend that uses it, feel free to use my referral link! Signing up that way gives the referred person extra free cards on their account. I'll happily take more, but check to see if your writing circles or friends have one first, so they can benefit! https://www.milanote.com/refer/rcFJ27wvd7QdIoJI5b

No matter how you make one, a style sheet is a fantastic resource to give an editor or beta reader, and definitely useful for yourself! I hope this helps you with your WIPs!

#finish what you started 2025 #tools tuesday

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finishwhatyoustarted-event · 1 month ago

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Finished It Friday - March 5

(delayed due to health)

Finished It Friday is a weekly post rounding up everything that was finished during this past week of our event. See more on the bsky page!

Did I miss your work? Message me and I'll make sure it ends up on the next FIF!

Adora’s New Look by TheStarGayzingEtherianCollection (TheStarGayzingEtherian)

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power - Rated G - Adora/Catra, Bow/Glimmer - Post-Canon, Fluff, Best Friend Squad - "After realising her girlfriend has been wearing the same clothes for nearly two whole years, Catra decides her girlfriend finally needs a new outfit. (Catradora, Canon, Fluff)"

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64314103

A Proud Scorpion Mama by TheStarGayzingEtherianCollection (TheStarGayzingEtherian)

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power - Rated G - Adora/Catra, Perfuma/Scorpia - Post-Canon, Fluff, Pets - "After discovering a clutch of eggs near the Fright Zone, Scorpia decides to raise a bunch of little baby scorpions. (Catradora/Scorfuma, Canon, Fluff)"

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64313272

Melog’s Goodbye by TheStarGayzingEtherianCollection (TheStarGayzingEtherian)

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power - Rated G - Adora/Catra, Catra & Melog - Post-Canon, Future Fic, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Therapy Cat Melog, Talking Animals, Outer Space - "After Melog decides to go live with the rest of its kind on a sanctuary planet, she decides to leave one final gift for the woman who touched her heart. (Catradora, Canon, Fluff)"

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64422736

Masks by kaitou (misbehavingvigilante)

밤에 피�� 꽃 | Knight Flower (TV) - Rated T - Cho Sung Hoo & Cho Yeo Hwa - Fix-It, Time Travel - "Or, Cho Sung Hoo doesn’t die, saved at the hands of a masked stranger."

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64244416

what our skin says by drowsyfeline

NSFW, content warnings: Canon-Typical Violence, Body Horror, Implied Sexual Content - 呪術廻戦 | Jujutsu Kaisen - Ieiri Shoko/Iori Utahime - Post-Star Plasma Vessel | Hidden Inventory Arc, Curses, Bathing/Washing, Chronic Pain, Wounds, Implied/Referenced Character Death - "Shoko holds Utahime by the jaw. Her fingers are firm and warm, pressing into her flesh. Brown eyes stare intensely at her. She uses the other hand to spread the cream gently. It’s careful. Delicate. Precise. Uthaime wonders if this is what it's like to be held by someone. To be malleable and transformed into something that wants."

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64329040

#finished it friday #finish what you started 2025

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finishwhatyoustarted-event · 1 month ago

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Tools Tuesday - Take a Breather (April 1st)

Wow, the first Tools Tuesday of the second month of the event! Time has flown by! You are all doing so well working on your WIPs. I hope seeing others finish can act as inspiration, not de-motivation. That will be you, too!

Your energy might start waning, which is a great time to take a break, be it a day or a week. Go out in nature, experience something new, revisit the canon media, hang out with friends – whatever helps reset your mental energy levels.

Life is busy. There is a lot happening in the world right now that might be overwhelming. Don’t work yourself to the bone, especially for something you love. Take a deep breath and come back more recharged.

#tools tuesday #finish what you started 2025

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finishwhatyoustarted-event · 1 month ago

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Happy second month of the event! This is the halfway point check-in. How are you doing? Have you been able to make any progress at all on your chosen WIP(s)?

Take a bit to congratulate yourself on getting to this point and assess what your next steps are today. One more month to go! You can do this!

#Finish What You Started 2025 #Event post

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finishwhatyoustarted-event · 1 month ago

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Finished It Friday - March 28

Finished It Friday is a weekly post rounding up everything that was finished during this past week of our event. See more on the bsky page!

Did I miss your work? Message me and I'll make sure it ends up on the next FIF!

I included some from the Archive collection that I missed from previous weeks.

5 times Boya acted like a harlot, and the 1 time he didn’t have to by kaitou (misbehavingvigilante)

NSFW, content warnings: sexual content - 阴阳师 | Yīn Yáng Shī | The Yin-yang Master (Movies - Guo Jingming) - Rated E - Bo Ya/Qing Ming - Post Canon, 5+1 Things, Uncle Kink, Age Difference, Hijinks & Shenanigans, Not Actually Unrequited Love - "Qingming rejects Boya, because he thinks he’s too old (and not good enough for Boya) and this goes about as well as can be expected. Or, canonverse uncle kink qingya."

https://archiveofourown.org/works/63521389/chapters/162774658

The Peasant and the Frog Prince by chaosgenes

NSFW, content warnings: brief nudity - Merlin (TV) - Rated M - Merlin/Arthur Pendragon - Fairy Tale Elements, Inspired by Der Froschkönig oder der eiserne Heinrich | The Frog Prince (Fairy Tale), Happy Ending, Fluff - "The Kingdom of Camelot has lost their Prince! As everyone panics and searches for him, one peasant begrudgingly befriends a cursed frog and tries to help it restore it to its human form."

https://archiveofourown.org/works/63779110

I am every dead thing in whom love wrought new alchemy by tellmeyoufool

NSFW, content warnigns: Non-Explicit Sex, Terminal Illness, References to Weight Loss, Implied Period Typical Homophobia - 屍者の帝国 | Shisha no Teikoku | Empire of Corpses (2015) - Rated M - Friday/John Watson - Anime Canon, Pre-Canon, Undefined Relationship - "“What if they bury me on a Friday?” White bed sheets slipped from bare shoulders as Friday reached for his lighter and a half-empty pack of cigarettes—a calculated movement of effortless elegance and sensuality, almost but not quite enough to be a distraction. The disease that wrecked Friday’s body was noticeable even to the untrained eye; John’s tracked it with expertise. Friday held his gaze over the spark of the lighter, and exhaled the smoke in lazy circles."

https://archiveofourown.org/works/63972448

years and years unto years by tellmeyoufool

屍者の帝国 | Shisha no Teikoku | Empire of Corpses (2015) - Rated T - Friday/John Watson - Anime Canon, Pre-Canon, Canon Divergence, Reunions, Memory Loss - "A wandering mind, fragments of dreams and memories, and a reunion most unexpected."

https://archiveofourown.org/works/63972541

to have and to hold by mew_tsubaki

Haikyuu!! - Rated G - Matsukawa Issei/Watari Shinji - Established Relationship, Hurt/Comfort, Post-Haikyuu!! Time Skip, Grief/Mourning, Discussion of Animal Death, Sad with a Happy Ending - "And maybe it's those things, the changes and the sameness, that he wants forever with Shinji."

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64108336

Maniac on the Floor by borzoieyes

Pokemon - All Media Types - Rated G - Sonezaki Masaki | Bill - Character Study, Worldbuilding, Unethical Experimentation, glitch - "He performs things never seen before."

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64120186

One Friendly Bat by borzoieyes

Gooboo (Video Game) - Rated G - Player Character - Ambiguous/Open Ending, Worldbuilding, POV Second Person - "The earth is deep and you still have a long way to go. The earth is deep and you are now no longer alone."

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64143160

a short story about love by tellmeyoufool

重返未来：1999 | Reverse: 1999 (Video Game) - Rated T - Isolde/Kakania - 6 drabbles - 1 storyline, Angst, Mental Health Issues, Implied Murder, Canon-Typical Bilingualism, Brief Mentions of Blood, Hopeful Ending - "Isolde sings on an empty stage, surrounded only by the ghosts of Vienna, unseen by her for the first time. She sings an aria shaped like a prayer, hoping, needing her Klara to find her way back to her. Isolde and Kakania in 6 snippets, from the beginning till their separation and beyond."

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64184884

#finished it friday #finish what you started 2025 #reminder that I tag all rated M fics as NSFW #in case anyone was confused

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finishwhatyoustarted-event · 1 month ago

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Tools Tuesday - March 25 26 - Image Descriptions

(sorry for the delayed posting!)

What is an image description? Just as the title suggests, it’s a description of a piece of visual media. Think of it like you’re on the phone with your friend and you just saw a hilarious sign or cool thing in a store that they should absolutely know about, so you describe it to them over the phone. It is communicating visuals through words.

This description can go in the main part of the post and/or in the alt text of the image itself. Alt text is text that is coded into the image itself, so that screen readers will read out that text rather than nothing or just the word "image."

The best practice on tumblr is to put a detailed description in one place, and a shorter, simpler description in the other. That way, it can be used by everyone.

This is a topic that is very near and dear to my heart! Accessible posts make everyone in your community able to connect and share the joy of your fandom.

Creating image descriptions or alt text for your visual media (images, videos, gifs) helps a wide range of people: those with low vision, those who use screen readers, those who have issues interpreting visual media, those who have trouble reading text in pictures, those with bad internet, and many more. There’s a huge audience who just doesn’t get to understand or interact properly with your beautiful art without the interface of description!

Creating descriptions can also help you, the creator. You can communicate mood or subtle details that are important, shaping how your piece is interpreted. You can introduce new people to your beloved media, gaining a larger audience of appreciators. And you can even learn something about your own work. After all, by describing something, you study it more closely.

Not sure how to make an image description? No problem! There are lots of guides out there that go into detail! A few are linked at the end of this post.

The most important part is trying. An imperfect description is better than no description.

TL;DR: A basic description should have the media type (photograph, illustration, etc), the subject’s name (if available) and short physical description, and a summary of the action. If there are any words, they should be transcribed exactly, or converted to plaintext but keep the wording the same. When putting an image description in the main body of the post, start the description with an indicator (Start ID, etc) and finish with one as well (End ID, etc).

Links to guides that explain the process better than I can:

General guide for image descriptions by can-i-make-image-descriptions - Basic, easy to follow.

How to Create Image Descriptions by antimonarchy - More detailed with great examples.

Image description resources by kurapikas-dangly-earring, with additions by others - Further resources and tips.

Can’t do them yourself, for whatever reason? I want to make my posts more accessible, but can’t write IDs myself: a guide by anistarrose

I (the event runner) write a lot of image descriptions, so I’m happy to answer questions or direct you to more resources if you need them!

#tools tuesday #finish what you started 2025

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finishwhatyoustarted-event · 1 month ago

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General guide for image descriptions

What are image descriptions and why are they important?

Image Descriptions text following a picture explaining what’s in that picture. They are primarily for blind/visually impaired people with screen readers and visually impaired people who can read text but have issues with pictures.

They also help people who have trouble:

focusing on/understanding a picture

reading text on images (ex low contrast, weird fonts, etc)

getting images to load

Without image descriptions posts are not accessible to many people

How to make image descriptions in general

Do something to indicate you are starting a description

That way people know you’re describing the image and not commenting on it.

Describe the image

You want to be concise but also include all relevant details.

Indicate you’re ending the image description

That way people know that whatever is next is commentary etc and not part of the image description

I learned from example, so here are lots of examples to look at (it’s basically all the descriptions I reblog but didn’t make, so there’s a whole lot of different styles.

I am in the process of making a guide specific to tweets and tumblr tags/replies/posts that I will link on this post when they’re done I’m just very disabled.

Things not to do a

Bold, underline, or italicize words; use small text, all caps, fancy colors, fancy fonts

This makes it difficult for many people who need image descriptions to read them

In addition, all caps and gradient text tend to make screen readers say one letter at a time instead of reading out the words

Correct misspellings or grammar mistakes

We want to be as accurate to the image as possible.

If the spelling mistake is to the point a screen reader wouldn’t be able to read it, I recommend putting the actual word next to it.

If there’s just a wall of text, you can add paragraph breaks, commas or periods, etc, just put a note saying what you added

Sensor curse words etc

Feel free to add on

#resource #tools tuesday

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finishwhatyoustarted-event · 1 month ago

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How to Create Image Descriptions

So I’ve been creating image descriptions on tumblr for about a month, and I wanted to share some helpful guides I’ve found on how to create them as well as my own tips that I’ve picked up. Video descriptions and transcripts are also necessary, but since I mostly focus on image descriptions that’s what this guide is about. This might get a bit long, so fair warning.

What are image descriptions?

Image descriptions are a textual depiction of what is going on in an image, as shown with the image below.

[Image ID: A picture of a person with short black hair working on a computer. They are sitting at a wooden table with a large blue pot of pink flowers in front of a grey brick wall. A guitar is propped up against the wall in the background, and there is a string of lights near the ceiling. /.End ID]

Why create image descriptions?

The primary reason for creating image descriptions is to allow people who are blind/have limited vision to experience visual content. Many people who are blind/have low vision use screenreaders, which read text out loud when it is clicked or hovered over with a mouse. A large amount of online content, such as pictures, graphics, or drawings, is visual and so possibly cannot be experienced by someone with vision problems. As a general rule of thumb, anything that can be dragged or dropped most probably requires a description. In addition, if someone has partial vision and attempts to zoom in on an image, sometimes it can become pixelated and impossible to understand.

Some neurodivergent people might need a description to understand the tone of an image, such as the meaning of facial expressions of a person to understand what emotion the artist is trying to depict

Some people might not have high speed internet or have low computer memory, meaning that they turn off images in order to save space. This means that they as well might require descriptions of visual content

Are image descriptions the same as alt text?

no, alt text and image descriptions serve the same purpose, but they are different in how they are presented. Alt text, short for alternative text, is included in the html of an image and can be read by a screen reader. However, there are many reasons why many prefer image descriptions over alt text.

There is a limit of 200 words in alt text on tumblr specifically (and not in other contexts, which makes this information only applicable here), which means that detailed images or graphics are unable to be described fully without possibly cutting out important information.

People who require descriptions, but who do not use a screenreader, must right-click and search through the html of an image in order to find alt text, but with an image description they are saved that work.

Who should create image descriptions?

Everyone who is able to should create image descriptions. A content creator is best able to communicate the message of their work through text, as they are the one who created it and thus understand its message the best. While of course it takes practice when starting out, over time image descriptions become second nature when posting visual content. Always check the notes of a tumblr post for an ID rather than reblogging without one.

What should be included in image descriptions?

There is no simple answer to this question, there are a variety of resources and guides on how to create one, and you should not accept my advice as the ultimate authority, as I am by no means a professional, and only create descriptions in my spare time as part of the effort to make Tumblr more accessible. However, here is my information for those starting out.

First, consider what type of visual content it is. Is it fanart of a tv show, a screenshot of a tweet, or an informational graphic meant to educate people on a particular issue?

Then, consider what information is most important in the image. If the visual content is an image of a famous building, then in writing the description the focus should be on the building, rather than describing for instance the color of the sky, surrounding buildings, or the clothing of the people walking by, as they are not the information that is being presented.

Perkins ELearning has an excellent list of things that should generally be included, which I will include here. In my experience, these are the most important elements to describe

The people and animals in an image

The background or setting of an image

Elements that relate to the context specifically, so if it was an image of a congested highway on a news website, the description would mention the packed cars

The colors of an image (don’t overdo it however, a simple ‘light blue’ will suffice, no need to say something like ‘a color blue that is similar to the color of a robin’s egg’ unless it is crucial to the viewer’s comprehension of an image)

Context for an image. For instance, imagine if someone had drawn a version of the Bernie Sanders ‘I am once again asking’ meme, with Eleanor Shellstrop from the Good Place saying “I am once again asking for there to be a Medium Place.” Rather than provide a description to the example such as: [Image ID: A drawing of Eleanor Shellstrop saying “I am once again asking for there to be a Medium Place.” /.End ID] you would instead say [Image ID: A redraw of the Bernie Sanders ‘I am once again asking’ meme with Eleanor Shellstrop from The Good Place saying “I am once again asking for there to be a Medium Place. /.End ID]

If the image is of a social media post, include the username/handle of the creator as well as the reactions (likes/reblogs) if they are visible in the image, as they may be cut off by the original screenshotter.

If it is a drawing or piece of art, always look for the artist’s signature when writing a description

How do I write an image description?

To start off, here is an example description written for a piece of art I made myself.

[Image ID: A digital drawing of Suki from Avatar: The Last Airbender over a gold background. She is shown from the shoulders up facing the viewer, and has a neutral expression. She is wearing metal armor over a light green tunic, and is wearing her Kyoshi Warriors facepaint and headdress. The artist’s signature ‘Astra’ is written in the lower right of the image. /.End ID]

In this description:

I made clear where the description begins and ends, so that someone with a screenreader is not confused. I usually use brackets ([ ]), write the words ‘Image ID’ (or video/gif/other) and finish with a slash, period, and the words End ID. (/.End ID)

I emphasized the type of image, in this case a digital drawing

I said the character’s name (obviously this may not be known if describing a photo or something you are not familiar with)

I described the background and the character’s clothing

I described her expression

I included the description of my signature.

This is my basic process for writing a description

I first say what the content is, such as a drawing, photo, or screenshot of a tweet.

I then use what is called Object-Action-Context for the most part, which UXDesign has a long article on https://uxdesign.cc/how-to-write-an-image-description-2f30d3bf5546. For example, [Image ID: A photo of a person standing in a crowd waving to someone out of view in front of a river. /.End ID] While obviously I would usually provide more information than that, Person = object, standing + waving to someone out of view = action, and ‘in a crowd’ = context.

I describe the clothing that might be worn

I talk about the position that people in an image might be in, such as leaning against one another on a couch, or standing with their fingers intertwined

I talk about the expressions on their faces, if shown

I talk about their general appearance (if important to the description) such as hair color/length

As said before, I talk about the context of an image if necessary

If the background is a simple color, I usually include it in the first sentence of the description. However if it is more complicated, such as a river winding through a dense forest, I include that at the end of the description after describing the important elements.

Typically if I am reblogging an image, I do not add on any commentary after creating an image description, as this allows others to reblog my description without my personal reaction. If I want to add on to an image, I usually reblog my description post.

In general, it is best to remain objective when writing a description, meaning not including your opinion of the content. However especially in an informal setting, say for instance you were describing an adorable cow, I would see it as fine to say [Image ID: A small drawing of an adorable cow. /.End ID] because the emphasis is on the appearance. There isn’t a clearcut answer, and it really depends on the context.

What are some tips for writing descriptions/common pitfalls?

If there is an element of an image like a line that represents an emotion, or a sound effect like ‘clang’ if something falls, include that in the description. For instance, [Image ID: …beside the mug that has fallen on the floor, there are the words ‘sploosh’ indicating the sound of the water that has spilled out. /.End ID]

Put image descriptions first. Don’t hide them under readmores or any other text. If you have something with multiple images and you are the creator, place the description under each image in succession rather than all at the end. Readmores are ableist, as they require someone who has vision problems/one of the conditions described above to do more work to access the message of visual content.

If you are mentioning the skin color and/or race of someone in an image, make sure you describe it for anyone else who might be in an image. Don’t just describe the race of someone who appears to not be white. This doesn’t mean that you have to describe race, such as if the character is one whose race is commonly known, just that if you do, make sure you do it for all characters/people in an image.

In order to write IDs effectively, I’ve found it useful to download a screen reader. I use NVDA, which is entirely free and easy to use and can be downloaded here: https://www.nvaccess.org/download/.

Insert + Q turns it off

While my guide has focused mostly on image descriptions, video descriptions are also necessary. However they are not my area of expertise, and differ slightly, so I would recommend anyone interested in them to check out this website https://www.washington.edu/accessibility/videos/

Transcripts, for those who are d/Deaf/Hard of Hearing, are also necessary for making content accessible, and might be required for content that also has a visual format, such as a Tiktok. I would recommend this website https://www.w3.org/WAI/media/av/transcripts/ for anyone interested in writing transcripts

What are some more resources I can check out?

Here are a series of websites that I have found while researching how to write descriptions

UX Design - I mentioned UX Design earlier when talking about Object - Action - Context, this article is very useful and examines how to structure a description and provides very useful examples for beginners

Perkins E-Learning - This article is very useful in helping someone what to include in a description, such as clothing or background information, as well as providing some additional information on alt text if you are interested

Meloukhianet - This blog post by s. e. smith goes into detail on the elements of an image to emphasize depending on its context, using the example of a picture of their cat sunning himself.

SOAP - This article by the Stanford Online Accessibility Program (SOAP) provides a large amount of information on the purpose of image descriptions and what content requires them

HubPages - This article by SOTD and Zera discusses the difference between sparse, lush, and overdone descriptions, which is the amount of information included, and if/when each should be used.

I hope you found this information helpful, I encourage everyone to check out these websites, and my inbox is always open for questions!

#resource #tools tuesday

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