Text in Images

[goodmunki]

Can someone explain to me why using text in images is a no no? I have been doing this with no issues so far, but read in the forum that it shouldn't be done.

[ken_b]

I suppose the main reasons are that images slow the loading time of a page and that search engines can't index the text in an image. Use the image Alt text might help with the indexing a bit.

[added] Welcome to WW

[edited by: ken_b at 6:54 pm (utc) on Dec. 5, 2004]

[PatrickDeese]

It's not an "issue" as in penalization but no search engine will recognize the words in your image, and most of the SE's don't give full credit for the text in the alt tag, so you just won't do as well as you could with the actual SE recognizable text on the page.

[jo1ene]

Putting text on/in an image isn't a bad thing. But you shouldn't have a paragraph displayed as an image. For one, the search engines aren't going to be able to read it. Also, it will increase your web page loading time. People will look at the screen and see nothing until the "image text" appears, wereas they could at least read the text while the rest of the page loads.

[goodmunki]

Sheesh... you guys are quick!

Here's what I'm doing: My client has "handwritten" updates on paper. Basically, I use a font to make it appear as if the client has written the text himself on paper. I've saved them as web images to maintain the look of it.

Thanks for the info. I guess I need to find a happy medium between producing the graphic look he wants and getting the SE's to recognize us. You're all right--our rating stinks.

This site is a fantastic resource--keep up the great work!

[lorax]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld goodmunki,
Try to get your client to see the benefits of using text instead of images. What good is a great looking site if it isn't indexed by the search engines and thus no one visits?