Images and video

Arun.gov.uk will have limited pictures to keep pages clear and quicker to download.  However, we will use images where they add to everyone's understanding of the information on the page. 

They should not be used to make a page look interesting or to break up large amounts of text. Research has shown that people find the overuse of images distracting. 

For example: A picture of a computer keyboard when talking about booking a computer wouldn't add to a person's understanding of the page, but the picture of an entrance to a building they need to go to might help them find it more easily. 

We do not use images that contain text unless it is a logo. It is better to add the text to the page content. 

Icons or individual department logos will not be used to identify services. 

Size and format 

Any images used need to be good quality, landscape and 800 x 450 pixels. 

We need images to be in a .jpg format and logos to be .png. We do not use other image formats such as .svg, .eps or .bmp. 

Image alternative text (alt text) 

Alt text is used as an alternative to an image for people who use screen readers. We use it wherever images are included unless using it would disrupt a person's understanding of the page content. 

Alt text helps users understand the visual content of an image. We don't always make the alt text a literal description of the image, sometimes it's better to think about what point the image is making. 

Copyright 

We apply caution when using images to ensure we do not breach copyright laws. 

Images are used only when either the council owns the copyright or: 

• a licence has been purchased from the copyright holder 

• the creator has released it under a Creative Commons licence 

• the creator has released it under the Open Government Licence 

• the copyright has expired 

Using photographs 

If someone in the photograph can be identified then the photograph is considered to be personal data. You must ensure you have written consent to use images that contain people and note how long the consent is for. 

There are some exemptions for photographs including people at public events, please seek advice from our information governance officer. 

Video 

We only add videos where there is an evidenced need for the information. 

Where we use videos on the website, these are hosted on a council-managed YouTube channel. The resolution will be a minimum of 720 pixels and subtitles will be available. 

Sometimes video is used for events instead of adding multiple images.