Overview
All users at UTA can create effective, accessible graphics and this information will empower you to do so.
Self-Serve Resources are cumulative. See the Self-Serve Courses page for the complete learning path.
Do not start this course until you have completed the following:
- Accessibility training provided by EIR Accessibility
- The Inclusive and Accessible Content course
EIR Electronic Accessibility is the training and compliance resource for accessibility at UTA. OLC Creative Services offers Self-Serve Courses to support primary training provided by EIR Electronic Accessibility. We cannot create accessible content or verify accessibility for groups outside our service area.
Video Tutorial
Basic Requirements
All flyers should:
- follow best practices
- be accessible (or provide an accommodation)
- use accessible colors
- follow brand standards
- be exported to accessible PDF
Types of Flyers
Digital Flyers
Flyers are typically 8.5×11”, or Letter size. Flyers may be digital, print, or both. Flyers can have short text or detailed text.
- User-Created Digital Flyers:
- All users can use Word to make a simple flyer by watching the video and following the DO’s and DON’TS on this page.
- EIR Accessibility provides Word training.
- Best practices are provided by OCI Creative Services.
- OCI-Created Digital Flyers:
- InDesign is a professional tool for flyers and other graphic design needs.
- OCI Creative Services provides accessible flyer design services to business units upon request. We can share InDesign best practices upon request for those outside our service area.
- See an accessible PDF flyer created using InDesign. This can be printed and sent digitally because it is accessible in print and digital format.
Print Flyers
Flyers are typically 8.5×11”, or Letter size. Flyers may be digital, print, or both. Flyers can have short text or detailed text.
- User-Created Print Flyers: Flyers that will be printed and never sent digitally can be prepared by any user using Canva, LucidPress, PowerPoint, Photoshop, Word, et cetera.
- All users must follow best practices for color, layout, et cetera.
- A plain-text accommodation must be provided in a digital format so a screen reader can read the information to users.
- See this page for requirements if you want to post the flyer in student-facing areas on campus.
- Flyers printed at UTA will have a white border. Two-sided flyers will be misaligned by about 1/16th of an inch. If you want to avoid this, you must include bleed and send the flyer to a professional printer.
- OLC-Created Digital Flyers:
- OLC Creative Services uses InDesign to provide print flyer design services to business units upon request.
- Click here to see an accessible PDF flyer created using InDesign. This can be printed and sent digitally because it is accessible in print and digital format.
DOs and DON’Ts for Flyers
DON’T attach PDF flyers to emails or post them on social media or Teams.
This approach creates a poor user experience because:
- They display as file icons users must click to see.
- If the user doesn’t click the file icon, they don’t see any of the information.
DO use graphics in emails, social media, and Teams and pair them with body text.
- The graphic should attract interest.
- The body text should provide the details.
DON’T post PDF flyers on webpages without context.
This approach creates a poor user experience because:
- They display as file icons users must click to see.
- If the user doesn’t click the file icon, they don’t see any of the information.
DO post PDFs to webpages with proper context.
- Post a graphic on the webpage and set body text below it.
- Or, create an image of the PDF so users can see what it looks like, and link the image to the PDF. Explain that users may need to download the PDF to view it.
DO handle QR codes correctly.
Alt-tag the QR code to describe its function and destination. “Scan the Q R code to visit [XYZ]”
Link the QR code and include an alt-tag on the link: “Scan the Q R code to visit [XYZ]”
QR codes must be remediated in Acrobat. In Acrobat, ensure the Figure tag is at the parent level – the same level as all the other tags. Drag the Link tag inside the Figure tag.
Accessible PowerPoint Poster and Flyer Templates
PowerPoint can be used to design accessible posters (11×17) and flyers (8.5×11).
Access the 11×17 poster template for posters and the 8.5×11 flyer template for flyers.
Best practices for creating accessible content should be followed to ensure the flyer is accessible. Learn these from the Inclusive and Accessible Content course, or by reviewing Best Practices from EIR Accessibility.
See our Printing Services page for information about posting 11×17 posters on campus.
The posters and flyers should be exported to accessible PDF before posting online. Users must open the file on the WEB VERSION of PowerPoint and choose File > Save As > Download as PDF. (This is the only correct method for generating an accessible PDF from PowerPoint.)
Training on how to use these templates is provided by EIR Accessibility. Register for a session on “Building an Accessible PDF Flyer from PPT” here.