As a rule, use words rather than images. Only use images that usefully add to the text content.

Where images must be used on education.nsw

You must use an image in the content teaser component.

Image dimensions

Full-width banner (with button and text)

Shallow banner (image only)

Content teaser

Image with caption

News hub feature card

Catalogue

Image size should be less than 100KB

Keep all images under 100KB as possible. Up to 200 KB is the absolute maximum for banners where quality is a concern.

The best bet is to use the 'save for web' function in Photoshop, which you can do in large batches to make your life easier.

If you don't have easy access to Photoshop, we recommend the following optimisation sites:

• TinyJPG - for JPEG files
• TinyPNG - for PNG files
• Optimizilla - for other file types.

Where to source your images

• Use images from the department's brand library (staff only).
• Take or commission photos, see our photography guidelines.

Rules of image use

1. Evaluate your image

Always consider the role an image plays in the context of the page where it is used. Start by deciding if the image is:

Decorative

This style of image does not add any information to the page, it is just there to make the website more 'visually attractive'. Don't use these.

Informative

Images that graphically represent concepts and information, typically pictures, photos and illustrations. Do use these.

2. All images need text alternatives (alt text)

Images must include alt text that describes the information or function represented by them. This ensures that images can be used by people with various disabilities.

These web accessibility tutorials for images demonstrate how to provide appropriate text alternatives based on the purpose of the image.

Alt text for screen shots

You do not need to describe what is contained in a screen shot as you would just be duplicating the instructions that relate to the screen shot. Instead, put "Screen shot of step 1", "Screen shot of step", and so on as the alt text.

3. Get permission to use the image

You can't publish information that identifies a person - a student, a parent or carer, or any other individual - without their permission. Find out more about permission to publish (staff only).

Don't use images downloaded from Google or other search engines without permission.

4. Don't use text images

Don't use images that are just text (words) or text added to them, such as:

• infographics
• posters
• screenshots of print
• cards.

While text images may look nice and be useful in print, the information in them can't be read by assistive technologies like screen readers.

5. Don't use icons

Avoid using icons because they can get confusing when you use the same icon for different things, or vice versa.

6. Use only pictures of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders still living

Many Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders are offended by the depiction of deceased members of their communities. It is very important to follow these guidelines and to be respectful of their values.

Do

• Make every effort to ensure that only pictures of living Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders are used in the website.
• Display a disclaimer if an image could contain a deceased person - such as a very old filed picture.
• Have a disclaimer statement in the privacy and disclaimer page in the website.
• Provide a way to report an incident.

Don't

• Use old images without checking permissions and historical data.
• Use ripped images sourced from Google or the internet (including other websites).

Images of people now deceased

While we have made every effort to ensure that only pictures of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders still living are used on this site, visitors to the site are warned that it may contain images of people now deceased. Please let us know if you know of the death of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person depicted on this site.