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Using LiveComics with a screen reader or braille display

How the library, the import window and the reader are named for screen readers, where each panel's words are, and the keyboard shortcuts.

Updated

LiveComics performs each panel aloud: the characters' lines in separate voices, the drawn sound effects as sound, and, if the comic has them, a spoken description of the artwork. The library, the menus and the reader's controls all work from the keyboard and report themselves to a screen reader.

In the library

  • Drop in your Comics is a button. Pressing it opens the file picker so you can add a CBZ or CBR file. The + Add Comics button near the top does the same.
  • Each comic in your library shows its title. Open it to start the reader.

In the Add Comics window

  • Import as is a group of three toggle buttons: Pages only, Panel view and Voiced. The one that is picked is announced as pressed.
  • Reading style is a group of two toggle buttons: Emotion and Even.
  • Character voices, Soundscapes & SFX and Panel descriptions are checkboxes.
  • The price line is a live region. It is read out again whenever a choice changes the price.
  • The last step, Reading type, is a group of three toggle buttons: Comics, Manga and Manhwa. The Add button starts the import.

For the whole import, step by step, see Add your first comic.

In the reader

The reader is a region named Comic reader followed by the comic's title. When the comic turns a panel, your screen reader announces your position and nothing else, such as page 3, panel 5 of 40, so it never talks over the narration.

  • Start autoplay plays the comic, and Pause autoplay stops it.
  • Show subtitles turns the on-screen captions on.
  • Previous panel and Next panel step one panel at a time.
  • Reader settings opens the settings, including Panel descriptions, Subtitles (CC), Sound captions and Reduce motion.
  • Back to library closes the reader.

The Panel text landmark

Each panel's words wait in a hidden landmark named Panel text: a heading with the page and panel number, then the panel description if the comic has them, then each character's line, such as "Man: Race for the moon", and the drawn sound lettering. Nothing in it is announced by itself, so you can read it at your own pace while the narration plays. It updates as the comic moves to the next panel.

  • In VoiceOver, find it in the rotor's landmark list.
  • In TalkBack, reach it with heading navigation.

The Panel text landmark is written for a braille display. We have checked it with VoiceOver's on-screen braille panel and with TalkBack, but not yet on a physical braille display. If you read it on one, we would like to hear how it went: [email protected].

Keyboard shortcuts in the reader

  • Right arrow: next panel. Left arrow: previous panel. In a manga, the arrows follow the right-to-left order.
  • Down arrow or Space: next panel. Up arrow: previous panel.
  • F: full screen on or off.
  • P: switch between one panel at a time and whole pages.
  • Escape: back to the library.

Panel descriptions

Panel descriptions are added per comic: tick Panel descriptions when you add it, or add them later. When you import a comic with descriptions, the reader's Panel descriptions setting turns on for you. If you don't hear them, open Reader settings and turn it on.

Descriptions aim to cover what each panel shows, but they can miss details a skilled describer would catch. If one is wrong or misses something important, email [email protected] with the comic's title and the page number.

  • Add your first comicDrop in a CBR or CBZ file, choose how it is read aloud, and press play.
  • The reader's buttonsWhat every button in the comic reader does, from play and subtitles to speed, sound levels and page view.

Still stuck?

Email [email protected]. A person reads every message. For billing, refunds and account questions, see Support.