Photosymbols provides images and tools for creating Easy Read information — accessible content for people with learning disabilities that uses simple words and pictures together. We offer a Photo Library of thousands of images, plus EasyMaker, a platform for creating Easy Read documents.

Easy Read is accessible information for people with learning disabilities. It uses short sentences, simple words, larger fonts, and pictures to make information clearer. Photosymbols images are specially designed for Easy Read materials.

Photo Library — Download images to use in your own software (Word, PowerPoint, InDesign, etc.). You get access to thousands of photos covering topics relevant to people with learning disabilities.

EasyMaker — Create Easy Read documents directly in our platform. Use AI to convert complex documents into Easy Read, or build from scratch using our block-based editor. EasyMaker automatically matches images to your content and can output in multiple formats: A4 PDF, web version, plain English, audio with read-aloud, and mobile-friendly interactive versions. You can also generate custom AI images when you can't find what you need.

Bundle — Get both products together at 40% off the EasyMaker price.

No. If you can use basic tools like email or Word, you'll find Photosymbols easy to use. EasyMaker is designed to guide you through creating Easy Read content step by step.

We offer subscriptions for individuals and teams:

• Personal — 1 user
• Small Team — up to 3 users
• Team — up to 5 users
• Organisation 10 — up to 10 users
• Organisation 25 — up to 25 users
• Enterprise — 50 to 500+ users (contact us for pricing)

Each tier is available for Photo Library, EasyMaker, or as a Bundle.

All subscriptions run for 12 months. We'll contact you about a month before your subscription ends to remind you to renew.

No. We'll remind you before your subscription ends, and you can renew in our shop or contact us. We'll extend your access seamlessly.

We accept card payments through our online shop, as well as Purchase Orders and bank transfers. We're happy to deal directly with your Finance or Procurement team if needed. We offer 30-day payment terms as standard.

No. Your access is activated as soon as your order is placed or processed. We offer 30-day payment terms to give your Finance team time to arrange payment.

We don't offer a general charity discount, as many charities are larger than we are! But if you're a small group run by disabled people or people with learning disabilities, please get in touch — we may be able to help.

Yes. VAT is applied at the appropriate rate and shown in your cart when you place an order.

Thousands of images covering topics relevant to people with learning disabilities — health, money, relationships, work, housing, rights, and much more. New images are added regularly.

Images are available in PNG or JPEG format — you can choose your preference in your account settings. PNGs have transparent backgrounds, so you can place them on coloured backgrounds without a white box showing.

Yes. Each image has suggested alt text with a copy button so you can use it in your documents and web pages. We recommend adapting the alt text to suit the context you're using the image in.

Our library covers topics relevant to adults with learning disabilities, including some sensitive subjects. Safe Search lets you hide images that might be distressing. You can toggle it on or off in your account settings or in the library itself.

Your subscription allows you to download images for your normal Easy Read work, subject to reasonable use. We don't set hard daily limits, but if we notice unusual activity we may get in touch to check everything's okay. The vast majority of customers will never hear from us about this.

This happens because some software (especially older versions of Microsoft Office) doesn't handle PNG transparency properly — it renders the transparent areas as black.

The quickest fix: Switch to JPG format in your Photosymbols account settings. JPGs don't have transparency, so there's no black background issue. The trade-off is you'll get a white background instead of transparent.

Other things to try:

• Update Microsoft Office — versions from 2016 onwards handle transparency much better
• Try "Paste Special > Picture" instead of drag-and-drop
• In Word/PowerPoint, you can use Format Picture > Color > Set Transparent Color to manually remove a white background from a JPG

This is usually a software compatibility issue rather than a problem with Photosymbols, so updating your Office version is the most reliable long-term fix.

EasyMaker is a platform for creating Easy Read documents. You can use AI to convert complex documents, web pages, or text into Easy Read — or build documents from scratch using our block-based editor. EasyMaker automatically suggests images from the Photosymbols library to match your content, and you can generate custom AI images when you can't find what you need.

EasyMaker can output your content in multiple formats from a single document: A4 Easy Read PDF, web version, plain English version, audio version with read-aloud, and a mobile-friendly interactive version. Create once, publish everywhere.

Yes. You can access, duplicate, and edit your documents any time from your EasyMaker library while your subscription is active.

With an EasyMaker-only subscription, images can only be used within documents you create in EasyMaker. If you want to download images for use in Word, PowerPoint, or other software, you'll need a Photo Library subscription or a Bundle.

AI-generated images are saved in your Generated Images library for reuse in your EasyMaker documents. A copy is sent to our team for quality review, and some images may be added to the wider Photo Library for all users. If you have a Bundle subscription, your generated images also appear in your Photo Library Favourites.

No. Each user must have their own login. If you need additional users, you can upgrade your subscription or contact us.

If you create Easy Read materials for other organisations — whether you charge for them or not — you need an Extended Use Add-On Licence. This applies to freelancers, agencies, NHS trusts creating for partners, and anyone handing materials to another organisation to publish as their own.

The Extended Use Add-On Licence costs £3,500/year and can be added to any subscription tier. Contact us to discuss whether this applies to you.

When your subscription ends, you must delete any downloaded images from your devices. However, Easy Read materials you've already created (with images embedded) can continue to be used. You just can't create new materials without renewing.

You should display your licence number badge on materials you create — you can download this from your account page. Alternatively, use text like "Images from the Photosymbols Photo Library, copyright Photosymbols."

You can find our full Licence Agreement here, which covers the Photo Library, EasyMaker, and the Extended Use Add-On Licence.

Yes, in specific ways. EasyMaker includes AI-powered text simplification and image generation. We also use AI assistance for some library images where direct photography isn't practical.

We take a careful, ethical approach to AI. We never use AI to create images of people with learning disabilities — our library features real people who have consented to appear. We work with our Expert Advisers (people with learning disabilities) to review our AI policy.

Yes. You can enable or disable AI features in your account settings depending on your organisation's policy. Account holders can set this for all users on their subscription.

No. Using our images for AI training, machine learning, or automated data collection is not permitted under any circumstances.

Click the 'Log In' button in the top right corner of the screen, enter your email and password, and click 'Sign In'. If you have an active subscription, you'll see buttons for the Photo Library and/or EasyMaker.

Yes, as long as you have a current subscription. Photosymbols works on Windows and Mac via your web browser. We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.

Try these steps:

• Try a different browser (e.g. Firefox instead of Chrome)
• Try a different device
• If you're using a VPN, try switching it off
• Clear your browser cookies for the Photosymbols site
• Wait a few hours and try again (repeated attempts can trigger robot detection)

If none of this works, contact us with details of what browser and device you're using.

Get in touch and let us know what's happening. It helps if you can tell us what you've already tried, and send screenshots if possible.

Yes. We offer several training options:

• Easy Read Design Course — Our comprehensive course covering the principles of creating effective Easy Read, leading to a Foundation Certificate in Easy Read Design
• Bespoke training — We can arrange on-site or online training tailored to you or your team

Visit our Training page for details or contact us to discuss your needs.

Log in to Photosymbols first. If you have a current course place, you'll see a 'Training' button in the top right corner. Click this and sign in with your training account password (this may be different from your main Photosymbols password).