CAPTIONS

As graphics include words, it may seen unnecessary to include a caption saying what the graphic shows. After all anyone looking at the graphic can see what it shows. But if you are looking for a graphic, you search using words. So including a caption can be helpful when looking for a graphic.

Historically there is another reason. When the Graphic News Service started in 1991, although there were preview visuals they were very small so you couldn't read the words.

In addition, words were needed to let page editors know what graphics were in preparation or available. To see what a graphic looked like editors had to wait until someone in their graphics department had downloaded and print it out because specialist client software was needed to access the Graphic News Service, and to open and view graphics (Adobe Illustrator).