If the technologies being used Vs. 'not mentioning' 1.4.5 Vs. 1.4.9

[jake-abma]

1.4.5 starts with:

If the technologies being used can achieve the visual presentation

1.4.9 does not:

Images of text are only used for pure decoration or where a particular presentation of text is essential to the information being conveyed.

Both SC are to enable people who require a particular visual presentation of text to be able to adjust the text presentation as required. This includes people who require the text in a particular font size, foreground and background color, font family, line spacing or alignment.

Seems like the 'technology being used' should be mentioned for both?! The reason I ask is because the requirements for people as mentioned are not always possible for all technologies. Or IF one property can be changed (size as an example) this will be fine... ?!

Does anyone recall the reason for this discrepancy in normative text?

[jake-abma]

ps. is this "If the technologies being used" not always applicable for all SC? Seems a bit redundant as we can mention this for all criteria. Or is this a left over from the old days and will we not use such text again in future guidelines?

[JAWS-test]

The distinction between 1.4.5 and 1.4.9 is difficult to understand:

• The Understanding for 1.4.9 states, for example: "This means implementing the text in a manner that allows its presentation to be changed or providing a mechanism by which users can select an alternate presentation. Using images of text is an example of an implementation that does not allow users to alter the presentation of the text within it. ". But this is not correct. I can use text graphics that can be customized via userstyle (SVG) (= "that allows its presentation to be changed") or that are customized by the application (any form of graphic;) ("providing a mechanism by which users can select an alternate presentation")
• The Understanding for 1.4.5 states "Techniques for satisfying this Success Criterion are the same as those for Success Criterion 1.4.9, except that they only need to apply if the visual presentation can be achieved with the technologies that the author is using. For Success Criterion 1.4.9, the sufficient techniques would be applied only when the user can customize the output." This is strange because only SC 1.4.5 mentions the customizability of the font graphic as an exception and not 1.4.9. And what is the difference between "technologies that the author is using" and "user can customize the output"? Possibly the latter refers to the compliant alternative version via a style switcher (C30), but then this is awkwardly worded, since "The image of text can be visually customized to the user's requirements" probably means something else (customization of the font graphic via userstyle instead of hiding the font graphic)

[bruce-usab]

Jake wrote (emphasis added):

The reason I ask is because the requirements for people as mentioned are not always possible for all technologies.

The distinction of an SC not always being possible for all technologies is the main reason an SC ended up at AAA instead of AA (or maybe even Single A). I am not clear if this caveat is applicable to 1.4.9.

I have always viewed 1.4.5 as being equivalent to 1.4.9 but with (a) the option for customization (which maybe never did become a thing, at least as far as images of text goes), and (b) soft/squishy language which permitted images of text (e.g., in headings) in the early days of CSS when effects and decorative fonts were very limited.

I do think a future requirement could just be 1.4.9 at AA.

Edit to mention that this question relates to https://github.com/w3c/wcag/issues/1615.

[alastc]

Seems like the 'technology being used' should be mentioned for both?!

That's one aspect of why it is AAA. It is a stricter requirement, so in the case of a tech where it cannot achieve the desired presentation, you still don't use images of text, you use text.

[LaurenceRLewis]

I was discussing 1.4.5 images of text with my team at work. The question was raised. If the information as image text in the image is provided elsewhere in the page as text—does 1.4.5 still apply for that image. Sorry for hijacking this issue but it is sort of related.

Thanks.

[patrickhlauke]

@LaurenceRLewis related https://github.com/w3c/wcag/pull/3773