Photo Teaser Component
Build a teaser to another page.
The UBCMS now uses Flex UI. Still in transition from Classic? Try these training resources.
On this page:
Accessibility
- Images require Alt text.
- Link text should be meaningful.
Last reviewed: April 20, 2022
Using This Component
There are three tabs: Title, Text and Image.
Settings are adjusted in two places.
- The pencil 'Edit' icon provides access to crop and rotate the image (once added).
- The wrench 'Configure' icon provides access to add/clear the image and adjust settings in the other tabs.
component toolbar
For original image sizes, we recommend starting with at least 800px x 536px for landscape or 536px x 800px for portraits (aspect ratio 1.5:1). Larger images are encouraged up a maximum of 2500px.
Edit (pencil icon) - Image Crop and rotate
The pencil icon ('edit') provides access to crop and rotate. (Use the wrench icon to Configure all other settings.)
component toolbar
When you click the pencil icon, a new toolbar will display, with options to Crop, Rotate, and Enter Fullscreen mode.
initial Edit toolbar
Known Issue
When you first add this component, always Configure it (wrench icon) before you click Edit (pencil icon).
Editing this component BEFORE a photo is added will generate an error "Sorry, could not start image editor..."
For more control on cropping, try the Adapative Crop options in the Advanced settings.
Configure (wrench icon) - Main Settings
The wrench 'Configure' icon provides access to add/clear the image and change settings in the other tabs.
Title Tab
Heading: Type a title for your Photo Teaser.
Link to: If you would like your heading to link to another page, type that page’s URL into this field.
Open in new window: This optional setting forces the clicked link to open in a new browser tab or window.
When that is selected, an additional icon will follow the linked text, to alert visitors that they will be taken to a new browser window, or even leave the current website. And if the hyperlink goes to a downloadable file, an document icon will instead be shown as well as the file size if the file is on the same server. (Read more about link labels.)
Alt text: Add a description of the image for users who may have difficulty seeing it.
- Alt text is required by New York State policy for most images and is always required if the image has a link or if the zoom feature is enabled, otherwise a caption can serve instead.
- Blanks or a carriage return are not in compliance and will be blocked.
- A period and space are now added at the end of any alt text that does not already end with punctuation. (This is not visible in the dialog box.) This increases the clarity with which a screen reader reads the page.
- See webaim.org for tips on writing alt text.
- If you change the image, you will be reminded to check the alt text for accuracy.
Hide border: Specify whether you would like to show or hide a border around your image. If you select Show border a thin gray line will frame your image. The border is hidden by default.
Alt Text is generally required under state and federal accessibility laws. Read more about Alternative Text.
The component opened for editing showing the Title tab.
Text Tab
Add descriptive text to your Photo Teaser. When you view your Photo Teaser, this text will appear below the heading and to the right of the image.
The component opened for editing showing the Text tab.
Image Tab
The wrench icon ('configure') provides access to add/clear the image and change settings in the other tabs. Use the pencil icon to edit the image (crop or rotate).
- Give your Photo Teaser an image by dragging one from Content Browser into the Image Tab.
- Alternately, click within the empty Image tab and then upload an image to embed it into the page.
- If you already have an image in the Image tab but desire to replace it with a different one, click the Clear button adjacent to the crop/rotate tools.
Only JPG, GIF and PNG formats are allowed. JPGs are recommended for best results and faster load times.
Adaptive Crop
The image allows for use of the Adaptive Crop tool.
- Adapative Crop is applied to your original image after any Image Size changes.
- These modifications override any changes previously made with the main Crop tool. You will be asked 'Would you like to override the native crop and use the adaptive crop?' Click Override to get started.
- Flexible Height is applied to your desktop image after Adaptive Crop adjustments and has no impact on mobile or teaser images.
Adaptive Crop settings in a Photo component.
The tool approximates how your original image will be cropped for desktop, mobile and teaser (thumbnail) views, allowing adjustments to better represent your desired focus in these contexts.
The interface responds to the main Image Size setting. Set the Image Size, then drag the Adaptive Crop cross-hairs to the center of your desired focus, and adjust the three sliders as desired to highlight the three zones.
The interface approximates the final displays. After you make your adjustments, we suggest you preview the results (e.g. using the mobile device emulator). And if you realize the List thumbnail is not working out as desired, consider also loading an image into page Properties that is cropped exactly as desired, where it will be used preferentially for teasers.
Technical Restrictions
- Image formats are limited to JPG, GIF, and PNG. (JPGs are recommended for best results and faster load times.)
- Alt Text is required by New York State policy, unless your image is purely decorative and does not aid in navigation.
- You do not have the option of selecting a particular size for your image; Small Landscape (140 pixels wide x 88 pixels tall) is the default size.
Accessibility Concerns
Images Require Alt Text
Alternative text ('Alt text') is a best practice for all your UBCMS images and is often required for accessibility so screen readers can tell visually disabled users what they are not seeing.
Purely decorative images can be set as "This image does not require Alt text" in many components. This nullifies any Alt text that was already entered.
Captions -- Some components (e.g. Photo) support a nested Caption that can serve in place of Alt text, provided the Caption provides a meaningful description of the image.
However, Alt text is required in these contexts:
- If the image is a link. *
- If the image is zoomable.
- If the image depicts important information not clearly provided in a caption or nearby text on the page.
- For the static thumbnail images that are generated by Video and Flex Module components.
* When the image is a link, the Alt text should support the function of the link, not the image. Screen readers will treat this image as a standard link.
Alt text can be added to images in Assets. This is required for images that are then used in the Photo Gallery component, while it can also be used as an alternate source for Alt text in some components (e.g. the Photo setting 'Get Alt text from Assets').
Best practice:
- Generally Alt text should be under 150 characters.
- Add a final period to your Alt text so screen readers will pause before reading subsequent words.
- Be concise but describe any significant elements to the image; e.g. "student looking into microscope in a research lab."
- If the image is a navigational button, describe what will happen; e.g. "next page of results".
- If the image is a link to another Web page, just describe the target page; e.g. "School of Nursing home page."
- Alt text should be added whenever an image is uploaded into Assets.
- Screen readers automatically supply "image of..." so do not include that in your Alt text.
- Screen readers indicate when an image is a link, so do not include that information in your Alt text (for links or zoomable images).
Known Issues
Additional Reference:
Link Text Should Be Meaningful
Link text should describe where the link will take the user in a manner that is appropriate to the context on your page and also the target page. This is also true for images that act as links.
Best practice: Avoid meaningless standalone phrases like "click here", "see all" and "learn more".
Additional Reference:
Advanced Use
- If the image you use is less than 140 pixels wide x 88 pixels tall, it will stretch (and appear pixilated) to fill those dimensions.
- Flexible Height is not an option in the Photo Teaser, so crop images larger than 140 pixels wide x 88 pixels tall to ensure that the part of the image you want to display is shown.