Our AI Alt Text feature uses built-in AI to suggest short image descriptions in a dedicated Alt Text field. Alt text is essential for accessibility—helping screen reader users understand your images—while also supporting WCAG/ADA compliance and improving SEO. AI Alt Text helps you meet these obligations at scale across large libraries, while leaving you in complete control to review, edit, or clear any suggestions.
By default, this Library setting is set to "off", but can be activated in your Metadata Settings: https://library.photoshelter.com/settings/metadata
Article Contents:
Using AI Alt Text
Lumen Only: AI Alt Text is available exclusively in the Lumen Library and Lumen Portal.
Location: Suggestions appear when you upload files, in the right metadata pane for individual assets, and in the batch-edit table for multiple assets.
Permissions: Admins and Editors can generate, edit, and apply AI Alt Text. Invited Users can benefit from the text while browsing the Portal, but cannot edit it.
On Upload:
Upload your files into the Lumen Library as usual.
Wait a few seconds—the AI will generate a short description for each supported image.
Review the suggestion beneath the Alt Text field.
Click Apply AI suggestion to use it as-is, edit the text directly, or clear it if you prefer to leave it empty.
Save your metadata. (Note: If your Admin has enabled auto-apply, the field may already be pre-filled for you to review and adjust).
Best Practices for Alt Text
Keep it concise: Aim for around 125 characters or less.
Focus on the visual details: Describe who or what is shown, what they are doing, and the context (e.g., “Two students walking across campus at sunset.”).
Skip redundant phrases: Screen readers already announce images. Start directly with your description rather than saying “Image of…” or “Picture showing…”. End your description with a period.
Don't guess demographics: Avoid guessing ages, genders, races, or relationships unless they are clear and necessary for context. Use neutral phrases like “person speaking at a podium.”
Decorative images: If an image is purely decorative (like a background texture), it is often best practice to leave the alt text blank so screen readers can skip it.
Using the Alt Text Editor
PhotoShelter's Lumen Library features an Alt Text Editor - similar to editing metadata in batches, you can edit the alt text on a selection of images.
To get started with the Alt Text Editor, select more than 1 file in your Library. With multiple files selected in the middle pane, click "Metadata" > "Alt Text Editor" in the right pane.
This option can also be found in the actions toolbar:
With the Alt Text Editor open, Library staff can make bulk changes to Alt Text across multiple files. You can also edit the Alt Text on a per-file basis by simply editing the Alt Text next to any image. When bulk editing, you have three options for your files:
- Append to Existing Metadata
- Adds what you entered in the "Type something..." field to the end of the Alt Text field on file.
- Replace Existing Metadata
- Removes existing Alt Text on the files, and replaces it with the value you entered in the "Type something..." field.
- Delete Metadata
- Removes any value in the Alt Text field.
You can filter the files you're working with in the Alt Text Editor by clicking the "All Files" dropdown. The default setting is "All Files", which shows your entire selection. There are a few other filter options here, including:
- Empty fields only
- Files with metadata
- Files with AI metadata
FAQ
Why don’t I see AI Alt Text?
Make sure you’re using the Lumen interfaces and that you have Admin or Editor access. If the feature still doesn’t appear, contact your Admin to ensure the feature is enabled for your account, or reach out to PhotoShelter Support.
Can I turn it off or just ignore suggestions?
Yes. You can always edit or clear alt text. Admins can choose in settings whether the AI auto-applies text to empty fields or only presents suggestions for your review. If your team prefers not to use it, you can simply ignore the suggestions.
Will it overwrite my existing alt text?
No. AI Alt Text will never replace your existing manual text unless you explicitly choose to apply a new suggestion over it. You can change this setting to always overwrite with AI text in the Alt Text field under your Library Metadata Settings: https://library.photoshelter.com/settings/metadata
How do I correct a bad suggestion?
AI is a helpful starting point, but it isn't perfect. To fix a suggestion, just click into the Alt Text field, type your corrections, and save. Your manual edits will become the new authoritative alt text.