This post explains how I handled a request where the source link led only to an image and contained no selectable text. It describes why that prevents automated summarization and offers practical steps for authors and readers to make content extractable and accessible.
It outlines quick workarounds, recommended tools, and best practices to avoid this common pitfall when sharing articles or requesting AI-generated summaries.
Why an image-only web page stops automated summarization
When a page contains only an image of printed or displayed text, automated systems cannot extract the underlying words because there is no HTML text layer to read. Without selectable text, natural language processing tools and search engines cannot index or summarize the content, which blocks services like automatic 10-sentence summaries.
In plain terms: the file is visually useful to a human who can read the image. Machines need text data to process language, create metadata, or perform semantic analysis.
Common causes and how to recognize them
Image-only pages often arise from screenshots, scanned articles, or social-media image posts. Sometimes content is intentionally published as an image to prevent copying.
Recognize them by trying to select text with your cursor — if you can’t highlight words, it’s likely image-based. Browser accessibility tools and “view source” can also reveal absence of a text layer.
Practical steps to provide usable content
If you need an automated summary or SEO-friendly content from an image-based article, follow a few straightforward options to make the text machine-readable.
Fast options you can use right now
Here are actionable methods to convert or supply text so summarization and indexing can proceed:
- Copy-paste the article text directly into your message if the source allows it.
- Use OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tools on the image to extract text. Popular choices include Google Drive OCR, Adobe Acrobat, and free online OCR services.
- Provide a PDF with selectable text instead of an image-only PDF. Use “Export as Text” or “Save as PDF” from the original document.
- Attach a plain-text (.txt) or Word (.docx) file for the content you want summarized or analyzed.
- If copyright or privacy is a concern, supply a short excerpt or paraphrase that captures the key points.
Best practices for content creators and publishers
To ensure your work can be indexed, summarized, and accessed by assistive technologies, adopt these production habits. They help with search engine optimization and improve user experience across devices and platforms.
Quality and accessibility recommendations
Always publish a real text layer — even when you include images of layouts or quotes.
Add alt text to images and provide full transcripts for visual or audio content.
Use semantic HTML headings, paragraphs, and metadata so crawlers and assistive tools can interpret the structure properly.
For publishers who occasionally distribute scanned material, consider adding an OCR step in your publishing workflow.
Retain the original digital text to improve discoverability and enable responsible reuse by researchers, journalists, and automated assistants.
Note on privacy and copyright: When pasting text into a public or third-party tool, confirm you have the right to share it.
If you can’t share the full article, a concise excerpt or an author-provided summary is often sufficient for generating helpful responses.
Here is the source article for this story: Extreme Weather California Mudslides