YuJa Panorama: Guidelines for Remediating PDFs

Overview

PDFs can be challenging to make fully accessible, especially when they include graphics, tables, or other design elements. Whenever possible, it is best to provide information in a format that is easier to remediate, such as a Word document, a PowerPoint file or an HTML page in Canvas. 

If you have access to the original file that the PDF was created from, consider sharing that version instead, because it will be more accessible for students and easier to update.  

When a PDF is the only available option, the following sections outline how to remediate different types of PDFs using YuJa Panorama. For more detailed information related to using the PDF Structural Remediation Tool, visit Structural Remediation Max – YuJa Help Center. 

Overview of PDF Types and Recommended Approach 

Primarily Text PDF - PDF that is primarily text with few to no images: 
Can usually be remediated in Panorama. Use the OCR Reconstructed Tagged option if the file is untagged. 

Scanned PDF - PDFs that have been scanned or photocopied out of print materials (books, journal articles, etc.): 
Can usually be remediated in Panorama, depending on the quality of the scan. Adobe Acrobat Pro may be needed if the scan quality is low. 

Multimodal PDF - PDFs that contain a mix of text, images, graphics, and tables: 
May be able to remediate in Panorama using the OCR Reconstrued Tagged tool. Auto tagging may help, but each non-text element, such as images, graphics, and tables, must be checked manually. 

Professionally Published PDF - PDFs that are typically professionally designed and published, resembling brochures or books: 

These will include numerous images and graphic elements, sidebars, insets, multiple columns of text, extensive use of color, and complex layouts. These may require extensive review and potentially additional support from the original publisher. 

As documents become more complex, automated remediation becomes less reliable. Human review will likely be necessary.  

Remediation Steps by PDF Type  

Primarily Text PDF 

Use this workflow when the PDF contains text with few or no images. 

1. Upload the PDF to Canvas or DocHub and allow Panorama to scan it. 
2. Select the Panorama Accessibility Icon beside the file, then open the Accessibility Report. 
3. If the PDF is untagged:  
   1. Select Fix Issue 
   2. Choose OCR Reconstructed Tagged 
   3. If the document contains equations or chemical formulas, choose OCR Overlaid Tagged 
   4. Select Add Change, then Apply Changes 
4. After tagging is complete, address any remaining issues listed in the Accessibility Report. Apply all updates. 
5. Verify the reading order using the Structural Remediation tool:  
   1. Select Launch 
   2. Expand the full document outline 
   3. Confirm the reading sequence matches the intended order 
   4. Select the toggle to confirm that you have manually verified the reading order 
   5. Apply changes 
6. The remediated PDF will now be available to students. To access earlier versions, open Update Document, select the three dots menu, and choose Version History. 

Scanned PDF 

Use this workflow for PDFs created from scans of books, articles, or printed materials. 

1. Determine whether the PDF is text or an image:  
   1. If you can highlight text, OCR is already applied 
   2. If you cannot highlight text, proceed to apply OCR 
2. Upload the PDF to Canvas or DocHub and allow Panorama to scan it. 
3. If Panorama identifies the file as untagged:  
   1. Select Fix Issue 
   2. Choose OCR Reconstructed Tagged, unless the document includes equations. If so, choose OCR Overlaid Tagged 
   3. Select Add Change, then Apply Changes 
4. Address all remaining issues in the Accessibility Report. 
5. Verify the reading order using the Structural Remediation tool, then apply changes. 
6. The remediated PDF will be available to students. You can access the Version History through the Update Document menu if you need earlier versions. 

Multimodal PDF 

Use this workflow for documents that combine text, images, tables, and graphics. 

1. Upload the PDF to Canvas and allow Panorama to scan it. 
2. Open the Accessibility Report. 
3. If the PDF is untagged:  
   1. Select Fix Issue 
   2. Choose OCR Reconstructed Tagged unless the document contains equations. If so, choose OCR Overlaid Tagged 
   3. Select Add Change, then Apply Changes 
4. Verify reading order through the Structural Remediation tool. 
5. Review and correct all Panorama issues, paying special attention to images, tables, and headings. 
6. Manually check that all visual elements remain readable. 
7. Be aware: OCR Reconstructed Tagged may distort images containing embedded text. 
8. The remediated PDF will be available to students, with older versions accessible through Version History. 

Professionally Published PDF 

These PDFs are typically created by publishers or design teams and include multiple columns, images, decorative elements, and complex layout structures. 

1. If time allows, contact the original publisher to request an accessible version or an alternate format, such as an ebook. 
2. If the PDF is already tagged and you are experienced with Adobe Acrobat Pro remediation, you may wish to start with Acrobat before using Panorama. 
3. To remediate in Panorama:  
   1. Upload the PDF to Canvas or DocHub 
   2. Allow Panorama to scan the file 
   3. Open the Accessibility Report 
4. If the PDF is untagged:  
   1. Select Fix Issue 
   2. Choose OCR Reconstructed Tagged unless the document contains equations. If so, select OCR Overlaid Tagged 
   3. Select Add Change, then Apply Changes 
5. Use the Structural Remediation tool to verify reading order. 
6. Address all major and severe issues. Minor issues may appear frequently in long documents and are not necessarily indicators of poor accessibility. 
7. The remediated PDF will be available to students. Earlier versions can be retrieved through the Version History menu.