How to make your flipbooks accessible in Flipsnack

Overview

To make a flipbook accessible, switch on Use accessibility in Customize, Add-ons, Accessibility, then add a description to each page, by hand or with the extract and AI options. Screen readers read those descriptions aloud, and readers can open them from the accessibility icon in the player.

Flipsnack builds its platform (website, player and flipbooks) to follow WCAG 2.1 Level AA and to meet ADA Title III, Section 508, EN 301 549 and European Accessibility Act (EAA) requirements. See the VPAT for details.

Flipsnack does not make flipbook content accessible on its own. Add the descriptions yourself, or use the extract and AI options.

Accessibility overview

Accessibility in Flipsnack works at two levels: the flipbook player, and the content inside each page. Watch the video tutorial to see how it works.

Key benefits of the Accessibility option

• Screen reader support: every page can carry a title and a description that assistive tools read aloud.
• Less manual work: extract the page text or generate descriptions with AI, then edit them.
• Keyboard navigation: the player and the interactive elements work with the Tab and Enter keys.
• Accessible PDF: readers can download a PDF you prepared for screen readers.

What accessibility covers in Flipsnack

• The player and its controls: navigation buttons and control bars work with the Tab key. Every control has a clear label that screen readers can read.
• Interactive elements inside pages: links, buttons and videos work with the keyboard and are readable by screen readers. Navigation through a page follows its layers from top to bottom.
• The content of the flipbook: you add page titles and descriptions for screen readers in the Accessibility panel, manually or with the extract and AI options.

Flipsnack has no built-in screen reader. It works with third-party tools. Macs include VoiceOver. On Windows, install software such as NVDA or JAWS.

Turn on Accessibility and add descriptions

• Open the flipbook and click Customize.
• Click Add-ons in the left menu, then Accessibility.
• Switch on Use accessibility. The accessibility icon appears in the top left corner of the player.
• Click Add descriptions manually. The Manage content window opens.
• On the Descriptions tab, add a title and a description for each page you want to make accessible. On the Alt text tab, describe the images.
• Click Save content.

Screen readers read each page's title and description aloud.

Extract flipbook text

Use this option when the descriptions should match the text on the pages exactly. It copies the text of each page into the Accessibility panel, so you do not type it.

• In the Accessibility panel, click Extract flipbook text.
• Read the message. It uses 5 AI credits, overwrites existing descriptions and does not extract image alt text.
• Click Extract text. Large flipbooks take longer.
• Open Manage content, then edit, delete or rewrite the extracted text.
• Click Save content.

Generate descriptions and alt text with AI

AI can write a summary of each page for you.

• In the Accessibility panel, click Generate page descriptions.
• Read the message. It uses 5 AI credits and overwrites existing descriptions.
• Click Generate. The process can take a while.
• Click Manage content to check the result, then correct anything inaccurate.
• Click Save content.
• To describe the images, click Generate alt text and follow the same steps.

Allow a fully accessible PDF download

For full control, especially for offline readers, upload your own accessible PDF. It can include manual alt text, color contrast adjustments and structure tags for screen readers. Readers download it from the flipbook player.

• In the Accessibility panel, find Accessible PDF version.
• Click Upload file and choose your PDF.

Learn how to upload and enable an accessible PDF download.

Where it helps

• Public sector, education and healthcare teams: publications that must follow WCAG, ADA or EAA requirements.
• Brands and publishers: catalogs and magazines that every reader should be able to use.

Recommendations for accessible flipbooks and PDFs

• Use high contrast between text and background.
• Do not rely on color alone to carry meaning. Add icons or labels.
• Add alt text to meaningful images and graphics.
• Keep navigation and layout consistent across pages.
• Limit autoplay for videos and audio, and add controls to pause or stop.
• Use clear, short language.
• Test with a screen reader and with the keyboard only to find problems in navigation or content.

Using accessibility as a reader

• Click the accessibility icon in the top left corner of the player, or press Tab to highlight it and Enter to open it.
• The Accessibility panel shows the text you added for the page. The screen reader reads it aloud.
• Use A- and A+ to change the text size, and Previous page and Next page to move through the flipbook.
• Use Tab and Enter to move through the other controls, such as zoom and full screen.

Troubleshooting

• The accessibility icon does not show in the player: switch on Use accessibility in Customize, Add-ons, Accessibility.
• My descriptions disappeared: Extract flipbook text and Generate page descriptions overwrite existing descriptions. Run them before you edit by hand.
• A page has no generated description: AI writes descriptions for pages with at least 50 words. Add the text of other pages manually.
• The extracted text has no image descriptions: extraction skips image alt text. Use Generate alt text or add the alt text on the Alt text tab.

Additional tips / FAQs

• Does Flipsnack make my flipbook accessible automatically? No. Add descriptions by hand or with the extract and AI options.
• Which screen readers can readers use? VoiceOver on a Mac, and NVDA or JAWS on Windows.
• Do the AI options use credits? Yes. The extract and generate windows show the cost, 5 AI credits each time.

Next steps

• Is Flipsnack accessible?
• Flipsnack AI package
• How to enable a fully accessible PDF download

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