Many students with visual impairments benefit from high contrast, uncluttered images, including students with CVI and/or additional disabilities. A recent iOS update enables users to remove the background from images with just a tap!
Jessica, TVI extraordinaire, demonstrates how she uses this new feature to lift the subject from the background to create educational materials. She creates printed choice-making books or digital images for an iPad or ACC device.
To remove the background
- Take a photo of the desired object or subject.
- Open the picture in Photos app.
- Tap on the subject in the picture.
- Select Copy.
- Open your preferred document app. (Google Docs, Word, Pages)
- Tap on the screen.
- Select Paste. (Image will be the subject only – no background.)
To make a print copy of the image
Follow the steps above to create and copy the image without the background using your preferred device. The video uses Google Docs on the computer. Note: The steps might be a little different depending on your preferred word document application; Word and Pages have similar options.
- Open the document app. (Google Docs was used in the video).
- Change the size of the image(s). (The video demonstrated a desired image size of 3 inches.)
- Tap the image.
- Select Image Options from the tool bar/ribbon.
- Change to the desired size. (The default and largest image size in Google Docs is 7 inches; this student’s target image size is 3 inches.)
- If multiple pictures are used, add spaces (blank lines) between the images.
- Print the images.
- Cut the images apart.
- Mount the images on 3 inch foam board for sturdiness.
- If desired, add Velcro to the back.
For students using an iPad or ACC device
Follow the steps above to create a photo with the background removed. Paste the photo into the student’s preferred application. Example: The student may be familiar with an ePub or other book format, presentation (Google Slides, Keynote or PowerPoint), or word document application. Keep in mind that word document applications also have templates for book formats.
Jessica’s video tutorial, iPhone photos isolating subject to create high contrast icons:
Note: These images work well with APH’s CVI Book Builder resource!
By Diane Brauner
