Everything PDF Wire does, and the accessibility requirement behind each feature.
Writing
| Feature | What it does | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Headings H1–H6 | Real heading tags, with the outline shown as you write | Screen reader users navigate by headings (WCAG 1.3.1, 2.4.6) |
| Paragraphs | Font, size, bold, italic, colour, alignment and line spacing | Readable text, with contrast checked as you choose colours (1.4.3) |
| Lists | Bullets, dashes, numbers, letters or Roman numerals | The list type and item count are announced (1.3.1) |
| Images | Alternative text, or marked as decorative; width, alignment and caption | Images are described or skipped, never read as “image” (1.1.1) |
| Tables | Header row and header column, caption, shading, striping and repeating headers | Each cell is read with its headers (1.3.1) |
| Page breaks | Start the next block on a new page | Layout only; nothing extra is announced |
Checking as you write
Problems appear next to the block they affect and in the checks panel. Errors block export:
- Missing document title or language
- Empty or skipped heading levels
- Images without alternative text
- Tables without header cells, or empty tables
- Text contrast below 4.5:1 (3:1 for large text)
- Characters the chosen font can’t display
Warnings point out things worth a second look: alternative text that looks like a file name or a placeholder, empty header cells, text smaller than 9 pt, or a document that doesn’t start with an H1.
Export you can rely on
When you export, PDF Wire builds the PDF, reads it back, and runs the same checks it uses on other people’s PDFs. The file is only offered for download if that check passes. Every export is a tagged PDF with embedded fonts, bookmarks, the document title and language, and the PDF/UA-1 identifier.
Checking existing PDFs
- Shows the tag tree, reading-order numbers and untagged content over the rendered page
- 19 automated rules, each mapped to a WCAG success criterion and a Matterhorn Protocol checkpoint
- A checklist for the things only a person can judge, such as whether alternative text is accurate
- An HTML accessibility report you can download and share
Fonts
Twenty font families are built in, each with regular, bold, italic and bold italic: eleven sans serif, six serif and three monospaced. The default is Atkinson Hyperlegible Next, designed by the Braille Institute for readers with low vision. Only the fonts you use are embedded in your PDF.
Drafts
Your work is saved in your browser as you go. You can also save a draft as a .pwj file to keep, share or back up, then open it again later.
An accessible editor, too
PDF Wire itself aims to meet WCAG 2.2 AA. It is designed to work with a keyboard alone and with screen readers, every control has a clear name, and it follows your light or dark theme. Read the accessibility statement.