Photography and Images

Images posted to Baltimore County websites are required to conform to certain legal, technical and content standards.

Images are used to support the overall content, messaging or branding of the web page it appears on. Images must help clarify or enhance other content on the page. Images used purely for decoration are prohibited. Images must be of high visual quality in order to represent the authority expected of a government website.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Images must be:

  • 72 dpi
  • Landscape orientation: Width is no more than 600 pixels.
  • Portrait orientation: Height is no more than 350 pixels.

COPYRIGHT

All images must be licensed for public use or be otherwise free of copyright restriction. If images are provided by the agency, proof of license for public use or a written release must be provided to Web Services.

USE OF STOCK

Stock images are to be used when first-hand or agency-provided images are unavailable or inappropriate. Stock images must be purchased through County-approved vendors. Web Services will provide stock image options if requested.

ACCESSIBILITY

All images must comply with all accessibility guidelines outlined by WCAG 2.0 standards(link is external) and be optimized for rendering on all device types. 

Images must be accompanied by alternative text that provides a clear description of the image for the visually impaired.

PERMISSIONS

In order to ensure all images meet these requirements, Web Services will approve, optimize, upload and place all images on webpages. Content contributors do not have the ability to upload images to Drupal due to the complex nature of the placement process.

IMAGE REQUEST POLICY

Contributors may email Web Services at webrequest@baltimorecountymd.gov to request image uploads to Drupal. Due to accessibility requirements and optimization, requests for image uploads will usually be completed within five business days. The request must include the following information:

  • The URL of the page on which the image will be linked
  • A justification of why the image is important content to include on the page

Web Services will make the final determination regarding any image posting request.