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Accessibility in Illustrator

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Illustrator

Illustrator

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  1. Illustrator User Guide
  2. Get to know Illustrator
    1. Introduction to Illustrator
      1. What's new in Illustrator
      2. Latest performance enhancements
      3. Illustrator release notes
      4. Work with Illustrator (Beta)
      5. Common questions
      6. Illustrator system requirements
      7. Illustrator for Apple silicon
      8. GPU performance
    2. Workspace
      1. Workspace basics
      2. Create documents
      3. Learn faster with the Illustrator Discover panel
      4. Accelerate workflows using the Contextual Task Bar
      5. Toolbar
      6. Default keyboard shortcuts
      7. Customize keyboard shortcuts
      8. Introduction to artboards
      9. Manage artboards
      10. Customize the workspace
      11. Properties panel
      12. Set preferences
      13. Touch Workspace
      14. Microsoft Surface Dial support in Illustrator
      15. Undo edits and manage design history
      16. Rotate view
      17. Rulers, grids, and guides
      18. Accessibility in Illustrator
      19. View artwork
      20. Use the Touch Bar with Illustrator
      21. Files and templates
    3. Tools in Illustrator
      1. Tools at a glance
      2. Select tools
        1. Selection
        2. Direct Selection
        3. Group Selection
        4. Magic Wand
        5. Lasso
        6. Artboard
      3. Navigate tools
        1. Hand
        2. Rotate View
        3. Zoom
      4. Paint tools
        1. Gradient
        2. Mesh
        3. Shape Builder
      5. Text tools
        1. Type
        2. Type on a Path
        3. Vertical Type
      6. Draw tools
        1. Pen
        2. Add Anchor Point
        3. Delete Anchor Point
        4. Anchor Point
        5. Curvature
        6. Line Segment
        7. Rectangle
        8. Rounded Rectangle
        9. Ellipse
        10. Polygon
        11. Star
        12. Paintbrush
        13. Blob Brush
        14. Pencil
        15. Shaper
        16. Slice
      7. Modify tools
        1. Rotate
        2. Reflect
        3. Scale
        4. Shear
        5. Width
        6. Free Transform
        7. Eyedropper
        8. Blend
        9. Eraser
        10. Scissors
        11. Dimension
    4. Generative AI (not available in mainland China)
      1. Illustrator generative AI FAQs
      2. Generate scenes, subjects, and icons using text prompts
      3. Generate vector patterns using text prompts
      4. Generate vector shape fills using text prompts
      5. Generate graphics to expand artwork and fill the bleed area
      6. Recolor your artwork using text prompts
    5. Quick actions
      1. Retro text
      2. Neon glow text
      3. Old school text
      4. Recolor
      5. Convert sketch to vector
  3. Illustrator on the iPad
    1. Introduction to Illustrator on the iPad
      1. Illustrator on the iPad overview
      2. Illustrator on the iPad FAQs
      3. System requirements | Illustrator on the iPad
      4. What you can or cannot do on Illustrator on the iPad
    2. Workspace
      1. Illustrator on the iPad workspace
      2. Touch shortcuts and gestures
      3. Keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator on the iPad
      4. Manage your app settings
    3. Documents
      1. Work with documents in Illustrator on the iPad
      2. Import Photoshop and Fresco documents
    4. Select and arrange objects
      1. Create repeat objects
      2. Blend objects
    5. Drawing
      1. Draw and edit paths
      2. Draw and edit shapes
    6. Type
      1. Work with type and fonts
      2. Create text designs along a path
      3. Add your own fonts
    7. Work with images
      1. Vectorize raster images
    8. Color
      1. Apply colors and gradients
  4. Cloud documents
    1. Basics
      1. Work with Illustrator cloud documents
      2. Share and collaborate on Illustrator cloud documents
      3. Share documents for review
      4. Upgrade cloud storage for Adobe Illustrator
      5. Illustrator cloud documents | Common questions
    2. Troubleshooting
      1. Troubleshoot create or save issues for Illustrator cloud documents
      2. Troubleshoot Illustrator cloud documents issues
  5. Add and edit content
    1. Drawing
      1. Drawing basics
      2. Edit paths
      3. Draw pixel-perfect art
      4. Draw with the Pen, Curvature, or Pencil tool
      5. Draw simple lines and shapes
      6. Draw rectangular and polar grids
      7. Draw and edit flares
      8. Trace images
      9. Simplify a path
      10. Symbolism tools and symbol sets
      11. Adjust path segments
      12. Design a flower in 5 easy steps
      13. Create and edit a perspective grid
      14. Draw and modify objects on a perspective grid
      15. Use objects as symbols for repeat use
      16. Draw pixel-aligned paths for web workflows
    2. Measurement
      1. Measure distance and area
      2. Measure and plot dimensions
    3. 3D objects and materials
      1. About 3D effects in Illustrator
      2. Create 3D graphics
      3. Map artwork over 3D objects
      4. Create 3D Text
      5. Create 3D objects
    4. Color
      1. About color
      2. Select colors
      3. Use and create swatches
      4. Adjust colors
      5. Use the Adobe Color Themes panel
      6. Color groups (harmonies)
      7. Color Themes panel
      8. Recolor your artwork
    5. Painting
      1. About painting
      2. Paint with fills and strokes
      3. Live Paint groups
      4. Gradients
      5. Brushes
      6. Transparency and blending modes
      7. Apply stroke on an object
      8. Create and edit patterns
      9. Meshes
      10. Patterns
    6. Select and arrange objects
      1. Select objects
      2. Layers
      3. Expand, group, and ungroup objects
      4. Move, align, and distribute objects
      5. Align, arrange, and move objects on a path
      6. Snap objects to glyph
      7. Snap objects to Japanese glyph
      8. Stack objects    
      9. Lock, hide, and delete objects
      10. Copy and duplicate objects
      11. Rotate and reflect objects
      12. Intertwine objects
      13. Create realistic mockups
    7. Reshape objects
      1. Crop images
      2. Transform objects
      3. Combine objects
      4. Cut, divide, and trim objects
      5. Puppet Warp
      6. Scale, shear, and distort objects
      7. Blend objects
      8. Reshape using envelopes
      9. Reshape objects with effects
      10. Build new shapes with Shaper and Shape Builder tools
      11. Work with Live Corners
      12. Enhanced reshape workflows with touch support
      13. Edit clipping masks
      14. Live shapes
      15. Create shapes using the Shape Builder tool
      16. Global editing
    8. Type
      1. Add text and work with type objects
      2. Add basic formatting to text
      3. FAQs on fonts in Illustrator
      4. Fonts and typography
      5. Create type on a path
      6. Create bulleted and numbered lists
      7. Manage text area
      8. Add advanced formatting to text
      9. Format paragraphs
      10. Character and paragraph styles
      11. Special characters
      12. Tabs
      13. Scale and rotate type
      14. Line and character spacing
      15. Hyphenation and line breaks
      16. Spelling and language dictionaries
      17. Format Asian characters
      18. Arabic and Hebrew type
      19. Composers for Asian scripts
      20. Reflow Viewer
      21. Preview, add, or replace missing fonts
      22. Import and export text
      23. Identify the fonts used in images and outlined text
      24. Creative typography designs
      25. Create text designs with blend objects
      26. Create a text poster using Image Trace
    9. Create special effects
      1. Work with effects
      2. Graphic styles
      3. Appearance attributes
      4. Create sketches and mosaics
      5. Drop shadows, glows, and feathering
      6. Summary of effects
    10. Web graphics
      1. Best practices for creating web graphics
      2. Graphs
      3. SVG
      4. Slices and image maps
  6. Import, export, and save
    1. Import
      1. Place multiple files
      2. Manage linked and embedded files
      3. Links information
      4. Unembed images
      5. Import artwork from Photoshop
      6. Import bitmap images
      7. Import Adobe PDF files
      8. Import EPS, DCS, and AutoCAD files
    2. Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator 
      1. Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator
    3. Save and export
      1. Save artwork
      2. Export artwork
      3. Create Adobe PDF files
      4. Adobe PDF options
      5. Use Illustrator artwork in Photoshop
      6. Collect assets and export in batches
      7. Package files
      8. Extract CSS | Illustrator CC
      9. Document info panel
  7. Printing
    1. Prepare for printing
      1. Set up documents for printing
      2. Change the page size and orientation
      3. Specify crop marks for trimming or aligning
      4. Get started with large canvas
    2. Printing
      1. Overprint
      2. Print with color management
      3. PostScript printing
      4. Print presets
      5. Printer's marks and bleeds
      6. Print and save transparent artwork
      7. Trapping
      8. Print color separations
      9. Print gradients, meshes, and color blends
      10. White Overprint
  8. Automate tasks
    1. Data merge using the Variables panel
    2. Automation with scripts
    3. Automation with actions
  9. Troubleshooting 
    1. Fixed issues
    2. Known issues
    3. Crash issues
    4. Recover files after crash
    5. Repair damaged documents
    6. Safe mode
    7. File issues
    8. Supported file formats
    9. GPU device driver issues
    10. GPU performance issues
    11. Wacom device issues
    12. DLL file issues
    13. Memory issues
    14. Preferences file issues
    15. Font issues
    16. Printer issues
    17. Media issues
    18. Missing plugin issues
    19. Share crash report with Adobe
    20. Unable to apply effects in Illustrator
    21. Improve Illustrator performance

Learn how to use accessibility features and create accessible designs using Illustrator.

Accessibility of an app involves features that help people with visual, auditory, speech, motor, cognitive, and mobility disabilities use it with less difficulty. By extension, it also involves the usability of assistive technologies like screen readers and screen magnifiers with the app.

Illustrator has some tools and functionalities that are accessibility-friendly. It also lets you create accessible designs.

Note

Illustrator isn't accessibility-friendly for people with full vision loss. It does partially support people with limited vision.

Native accessibility- friendly features of Illustrator

Explore the native accessibility-friendly features in Illustrator.

Keyboard support

  • Some Illustrator functions, such as tools and menu options, can be operated with a keyboard. However, many functions can only be performed using the mouse. You can use:
    • The Tab key to navigate within the Properties panel and the Layers panel.
    • Cmd + F6 (macOS) or Ctrl + F6 (Windows) to switch between the Properties panel and the Layers panel.
  • Illustrator offers many keyboard shortcuts. When you press a keyboard shortcut, it not only invokes the tool or option but also announces its name (when you use VoiceOver Utility on macOS).
  • Keyboard shortcuts can be remapped or removed, but Illustrator requires a mouse or touch to do so. Go to Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts to remap keyboard shortcuts.

Customize the user interface

  1. Go to Illustrator > Settings (macOS) or Edit > Preferences (Windows) to open the Preferences dialog.

  2. Select User Interface in the left pane of the Preferences dialog and adjust the following options:

    • Brightness: Select an icon to set the brightness of the user interface to Dark, Medium Dark, Medium Light, or Light.
    • Accessible Color Contrast: Turn on the toggle for color contrast when the selected Brightness is Medium Dark.
    • Canvas Color: Select Match Brightness for the canvas color to match the selected Brightness, or select White to change the canvas color to white. When you change the canvas color to white, the artboard color won't adjust automatically.
    • Share Button: Select Match Brightness for the color of the Share button to match the selected Brightness, or select Blue for a blue-colored button.
    • Large Tabs: Deselect to reduce the size of document tabs.

    In addition, for screens with larger resolutions, there is an option to adjust UI Scaling. To do so, move the slider next to UI Scaling 

  3. Select Selection & Anchor Display in the left pane of the Preferences dialog to adjust Anchor Points, Handle, and Bounding Box Display:

    • Size: Move the slider to the required value.
    • Handle Style: Select Filled for a filled handle or Outline if you want unfilled handles.

  4. Select Appearance of Black in the left pane of the Preferences dialog, and then set the appearance of black as rich black on RGB and grayscale devices, as needed:

    • On Screen: Select Display All Blacks as Rich Black for rich black to appear on the screen.
    • Printing / Exporting: Select Output All Blacks as Rich Black for rich black to appear in prints and exported files.

  5. Select OK in the Preferences dialog.

Color contrast

  • Text: Most text meets minimum contrast requirements. However, when tools are highlighted, the light blue text on the light gray background lacks sufficient contrast.
  • Non-text elements: Most meaningful non-text content elements have sufficient contrast. However, in some functions, controls have a dark blue outline on a dark gray background.
Note
  • Illustrator does not fully support high contrast mode on Windows.
  • Illustrator does not respond to high contrast mode except for title bars and menus.

Text resize

Illustrator allows operating system display scaling to resize text up to 200 percent without loss of content or functionality for most functions. However, videos can have their controls disappear at that zoom level.

Wacom support

For your Wacom tablets to work with Illustrator, go to Illustrator > Settings > Devices (macOS) or Edit > Preferences > Devices (Windows), and then select Enable Wacom.

Support for assistive technologies

Screen magnifiers

Illustrator works with screen magnifiers in general.

Screen readers

Most non-text elements in Illustrator don't have correct text alternatives for screen readers. For example, icons that visually indicate the state and status of tool options. You can use VoiceOver on macOS, or JAWS Client or NVDA on Windows as the screen reader.

Screen readers support the following items:

  • Items on the Home screen.
  • Toolbar, status bar, Properties panel, menu items, dialog boxes, and document names.

  • Other panels are partially supported.

macOS

  1. In the Apple menu, select System Settings. Then, in the left pane of the window that opens, select Accessibility.

  2. In the Vision section, select VoiceOver. Then in the VoiceOver section, turn on the toggle button.

  3. Select Open VoiceOver Utility. The VoiceOver Utility window opens.

  4. In the VoiceOver Utility window, select Navigation in the left pane, and then from the Mouse pointer dropdown, select Moves VoiceOver cursor.

    VoiceOver Utility
    Use VoiceOver Utility on macOS to read and select items in the Illustrator user interface.

  5. Open Illustrator. VoiceOver will read the names and values of the item in focus:

    • When you press the keyboard shortcut to invoke a tool, it reads the tool name.
    • When you access an artboard in Presentation Mode (Shift + F), it reads its name.

  6. Press Control + Option + Space to select the item in focus.

Windows

You need to install the JAWS screen reader app, and then modify the settings:

  1. Open JAWS.

  2. Go to Utilities > Voice Assitant > Settings.

  3. Select Mouse Echo in the left pane, then and select Enable Mouse Echo.

    JAWS in Windows
    Use JAWS on Windows to read the items in the Illustrator user interface.

  4. Open Illustrator. JAWS will read the names and values of the item in focus.

Create accessible content on Illustrator

You can create Color Blind Safe color themes for your design using Adobe Color. Once you create them, you can access them from Window > Libraries, or Window > Color Themes. To learn more, see Adobe Color | Accessibility tools.

To see how your design appears for people with Protanopia and Deuteranopia, go to View > Proof Setup and choose Color blindness - Protanopia-type and Color blindness - Deuteranopia-type respectively. You can adjust your design colors accordingly.

Note

Illustrator does not provide you an option to add text alternatives to non-text elements in PDF documents. Text alternatives can be added using Adobe Acrobat.

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