Embossed Graphics are images made up from raised dots. They are usually produced on a braille embosser which is a device like a printer that is connected to your computer; it punches dots into paper to form a tactile image. Embossed Graphics are also known as braille graphics.
Current brands of equipment include:
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ViewPlus
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Enabling Technologies
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Nippon Telesoft
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Index Braille
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Duxbury
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Pentronics
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Tactile Graphics Designer
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Picture Braille.
How to make Embossed Graphics
Embossed graphics are made in a variety of ways depending on the available software and embosser. Most standard embossers can produce graphics, but some are specially designed to produce superior graphics with variable height dots.
Special images (files such as: .brg, .sig, .vim) can be imported into braille translation software such as Duxbury to emboss as part of a regular document. It is also possible to send an image directly to some embossers from the DOS prompt.
ViewPlus embossers can emboss directly from Windows applications (Excel, for example), and produce braille with the use of a special font.
Advantages
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Once designed, production is a one-step process
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It is easy to mass-produce
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Embossing paper is inexpensive.
Disadvantages
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There is no height variation (on most embossers)
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There are limited shapes and texture fills
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It is not very durable
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It is not easily visible.
Where to buy equipment
Software:
Hardware: