Introducing PictureMaker
PictureMaker fills the gaps when the picture you need is not in the Library. Describe what you want in your own words and get a new Photosymbols-style picture made with AI.
New Rules for AI Pictures
New EU rules require AI-generated content to be clearly identifiable. We explain what that means for Easy Read, why real representation still matters, and how Photosymbols now labels AI-generated, AI-modified and real-person images.
New Australian images go live
This week's library upload is a big one for our Australian customers. Over 70 new images are now live in the Photosymbols Library.
Fifteen Years Ago Winterbourne View Horrified Us All
Fifteen years on from the Winterbourne View scandal - Pete reflects on standing outside the court with Bristol People First and the images Photosymbols created to help people talk about abuse.
Behind the Mask with DIY Theatre
View Easy Read in multiple formats I've been an admirer of DIY Theatre for years. We've crossed paths many times off and on, and every time we did...
The CHANGE Picture Bank Has a New Home
After thirty years as one of the most widely recognised illustration libraries in Easy Read, the CHANGE Picture Bank was at risk of being lost. Photosymbols has taken on the legacy, with Shaun Webster MBE helping to shape what comes next.
Make It Once, Use It Forever
Any pack in EasyMaker can become a reusable template with a single toggle. Use templates to make your AI conversions and routine Easy Read work quicker and more consistent.
What I Heard Over a Cup of Tea
Pete shares an unexpected finding from last year's Newton Project visits, discovered not in the questionnaire sessions but in the informal chats afterwards with self-advocates and support workers.
An Elephant Playing Twister
Pete reflects on what it means to bring AI into a space built on trust and relationships, as he plans another round of visits to self-advocacy groups for the Newton Project.
Some Things You Just Can't Photograph
We've added hundreds of AI-generated images to the Photo Library, covering topics from current affairs to everyday situations that are tricky to photograph. They're clearly labelled, they sit alongside our original photography, and they work just like any other image in the library.
Create Easy Read Faster with EasyMaker Templates
Need to create a document similar to one you've made before? EasyMaker Templates let you pick a ready-made starting point, make it your own, and even save your best packs as templates for next time.
Meet Kat, our Symbol Designer
Kat joined Photosymbols in May 2025 as our Symbol Designer and Resident Artist. Here she talks about her background in architecture, her approach to creating images, and what makes this work so meaningful.