Image alt text generator that actually looks at each image
Hundreds of product photos and blog images with empty alt text hurt accessibility and image search. Writing them by hand takes days. With this prompt, your todo.is agent looks at each image you attach or link, writes short alt text that describes what matters, and returns a CSV you can import.
The prompt
- Write alt text for these images: [ATTACHED IMAGES OR PAGE LINKS]. They are used on [WHERE THE IMAGES APPEAR] for [WEBSITE OR BRAND]. Look at each image and write alt text that describes what someone would need to know if they could not see it, in under 125 characters. Mention the product name, color or action when it matters, and use the page keyword only when it fits naturally. Mark purely decorative images (dividers, background textures) as decorative with empty alt text. Do not start with "image of" or "picture of". Write in [LANGUAGE]. Return a CSV with columns: file name or image URL, page URL, alt text, character count, decorative (yes/no). Flag images that contain text, and include that text in the alt text.
What to change
- [ATTACHED IMAGES OR PAGE LINKS]: Attach the photos (up to 50 MB each) or give page URLs and your agent reads the images on them.
- [WHERE THE IMAGES APPEAR]: e.g. "product pages", "a recipe blog", "the team page".
- [WEBSITE OR BRAND]: Your brand or site, so names are spelled right.
- [LANGUAGE]: e.g. "English" or "Spanish". Write alt text in the page's language.
Example result
- Alt text · fernandpine.com product pages
- 42 images found on 3 pages. 36 described, 6 decorative.
- Examples
- • oak-side-table-1.jpg
- "Round oak side table with three tapered legs next to a grey linen sofa" (70)
- • oak-side-table-2.jpg
- "Close-up of the oak tabletop showing the natural wood grain and rounded edge" (76)
- • oak-side-table-dims.png
- "Oak side table dimensions: 45 cm wide, 55 cm high" (49). Image contains text, included.
- • linen-cushion-sage.jpg
- "Sage green linen cushion with a visible zip, on a white armchair" (64)
- • workshop-team.jpg
- "Two furniture makers sanding a chair frame in the Fern and Pine workshop" (72)
- • divider-leaf.svg
- Decorative: alt=""
- Before and after
- • Before: alt="IMG_4482" · After: "Walnut bookshelf with five shelves holding books and a plant"
- • Before: alt="best cheap furniture oak table buy oak table" · After: "Oak dining table set for four with ceramic plates"
- Rules followed
- • Describe what the image shows that matters on this page, not every detail.
- • Product name and color when the image is a product.
- • No "image of" (screen readers already say it is an image).
- • Text inside images is written out.
- • Decorative images get empty alt text so screen readers skip them.
- How to import
- The CSV has one row per image. Many shop platforms and CMS plugins can import alt text from CSV; otherwise paste each one into the image settings.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and attach your images or list the page links.
- Replace the [brackets] and paste it into todo.is, or send it with the photos to your agent on Telegram.
- Your agent looks at each image and returns a CSV with alt text and character counts.
- Spot-check a few rows, ask for changes, then import or paste them into your site.
Tips for a better result
- Describe the image for its purpose on the page. A sofa photo on a fabric page should mention the fabric.
- Keep most alt text under about 125 characters. Some screen readers cut very long text into chunks.
- Never stuff keywords into alt text. It hurts accessibility and can look like spam.
- Check product names and colors in the output. The agent sees the image, but you know the exact product name.
image alt text generator: FAQ
- What is alt text? Alt text is a short written description of an image in the page code. Screen readers read it aloud, and search engines use it to understand the image.
- How long should alt text be? Short and specific: usually one sentence, often under 125 characters. Complex images like charts may need a longer description next to the image.
- Do decorative images need alt text? They should have an empty alt attribute (alt="") so screen readers skip them. Leaving alt out completely can make screen readers read the file name.
- Does alt text help SEO? Yes, it helps search engines understand images and can help them appear in image search. Its main job is accessibility, so write for people first.
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