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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/42870
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/42870
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

### What criteria can I use to determine when to use words and when to use images?

I think the criteria is simply real-estate. The empty box that would contain the photo or sketch. If you can describe something in text in less than that space, use text. If you can't and a photo or sketch with a line of text would do the job, the photo or sketch is _more efficient_ and should be used.

As Galastel (+1) says, if the photo doesn't give much information (a ball of dough or bowl of batter or a cutting board full of macaroni you sliced) then leave it out, **_text_** is more efficient.

Think in terms of page real estate, that is the criterion. It isn't that a picture is worth a thousand words, the question is whether a picture is worth more words than would fit in the space it will occupy on the page. For a finished dish (unless it is just a pudding), the picture will almost always be worth more words than the space it occupies (or to reverse the formula, it would take more words to accurately describe the finished dish, than can fit in the same box on the page.)

But for other elements, sometimes a sketch, a diagram, or a photo or even series of photos can communicate far more efficiently than words. Imagine instructions on making a pretzel, or making a braided bread, or folding and pinching various kinds of fancy pasta knots or filled pastries. But then again, a photo of rolling a meatball doesn't do anything words can't do in less space, _and_ more accurately: "Roll about two tablespoons of the mixture into a ball, makes about 40 balls."

Original score: 3