Technology

How do I produce braille?

Summary: Technology information sheet giving details of braille embossers, translation software and other ways of producing braille and tactile images.

• About braille
• Buying a braille embosser
• Buying braille translation software
• Braille translation software – availability and cost
• Braille embossers – availability and cost
• How do I produce tactile images?
• Other Products
• Where can I buy these products?

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About braille

Braille is a tactile code that is used instead of print as a reading and writing medium. Each character or "cell" is made up of 6 dots, and there are several different codes that are in general use. Grade 1 braille mostly represents each print character as one braille cell, but many experienced braille users read and write grade 2 braille, which is a form of shorthand where groups of letters may be combined into a single braille cell. There is a computer braille code that is sometimes called grade 0, and other codes for different languages, including Welsh and most European languages.

All kinds of material can be put into braille, from bank statements to bus timetables, maps to music. To decide whether you should produce your own braille, you will need to think about the complexity of the material you wish to transcribe, how often you will need to produce it, and how many copies are needed. For very occasional braille production and for complex material, it might be simpler, cheaper, and produce better quality, error-free braille if a commercial transcription service is used. There are a number of organisations that offer transcription services, from self-employed people working at home to small groups offering this and other services to companies with a specialist nation-wide service. RNIB's braille transcription services are located at Peterborough. Tel: 01733 375 000.

For information about producing braille and other accessible information see the See it Right book.

Buying a braille embosser

To produce hard copy braille from a computer two things are required:

• Braille translation software, which converts a standard document from a word processor into braille code
• A braille embosser (or braille printer) which prints the braille onto special durable paper

Embossers print braille output from a computer by punching dots onto paper. They connect to the computer in the same ways as text printers and can also be connected to notetakers and other devices. It is worth noting that embossing is very noisy, and an acoustic hood or cabinet may be necessary to minimise disturbance if the embosser is located in a populated area.

The main factor to consider when choosing a braille embosser is ‘How will it be used?’ Will the embosser be used to braille occasional pages for one or two individuals, or will it be a large scale braille production? A heavy-duty quick machine will be required when a great deal of embossing is being done, while a cheaper slower model may be sufficient for an individual's personal use. This information sheet does not give details of embossers for very heavy-duty braille production, but details of these can be obtained from the embosser suppliers listed at the end.

Features that distinguish the different embosser models are:

Speed: this is measured in characters per second (cps), ranging from about 10 cps to 200 cps for a heavy-duty model. Some embossers will print braille on both sides of the paper at the same time, doubling the speed of braille production.

Ease of operation: for a totally blind person it is important to ensure that loading and aligning paper and using the machine is easy, and the manual is accessible and clear. Some models have audio messages to indicate faults.

Quality of Braille: the dots should be clear and even - the type of paper will affect this.

Other features: variable impact for different paper weights, using cut sheets instead of continuous paper, the ability to produce ink print or graphics together with braille, sideways embossing for wide lines such as for program listings or spreadsheets, and the ability to use the braille dots to produce tactile graphics with appropriate software.

Buying braille translation software

The choice of translation software will depend upon whether you can read braille or not, and the nature of the material you wish to emboss. Basic translation software can be very accurate for everyday printed material, but may not be suitable if specialist characters or layout are needed, such as mathematical, scientific or music notation. Unless you are an experienced braille transcriber, complicated layouts and graphics are best left to the professionals and commercial transcription services.

Some translation software can deal with more than one language code within a document, and some are limited to one language. If you are sighted and can read braille, you may wish to view a representation of the braille translation as dots or codes on the computer screen, and you might choose a package which even enables you to directly edit the braille translation on-screen. Another feature to consider is whether you want to use the PC keyboard to input 6-dot braille. If you are not a braille reader, you are likely to want software, which makes the translation process as simple, automatic and accurate as possible. It is important to note that in order to be as accurate as a professional print publication, material embossed using an off-the-shelf translation package must be proof-read.

You will need special braille paper to print onto and this is available from the various suppliers of braille embossers.

Braille translation software – availability and cost

Braille Maker for Windows

Produces grade 1 and 2 braille. Braille Maker Professional can transcribe a number of languages and maths code.
Available from RNIB and Blazie Engineering
Approx £200 (£400 for Professional version)

Cipher

You can preview the Braille codes on screen before embossing. Is intended for use by braillists and non-braillists.
Available from Dolphin Computer Access.
Approx £160

Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT)

DBT is available for Windows or for the Apple and translates into grades 1 and 2 braille. Support for languages and Maths code. You can preview the braille codes on screen before embossing.
Available from various suppliers including RNIB and Techno-Vision
Approx £400

MegaDots

MegaDots is a DOS program designed to be a braille word processor for experienced braillists. Translates into Grade 1 and 2 Braille and supports languages and Maths code. It will run on Windows XP.
Available from Techno-Vision
Approx £390

Monty

You can preview the braille codes on screen before embossing and you can combine braille and large print on the screen and printed on paper.
Available from Modern World Data
Approx £150

WinBraille

Each Index embosser includes a free copy of the WinBraille braille editor. You can also emboss pages directly from your web browser, but pictures and other information that cannot be produced in braille will be excluded. Drivers for the Apple OSX operating system are available.
Download from: Index braille

NFBTrans

A free program for DOS and UNIX, meaning that it can work on OSX. Accepts only ASCII files.
Download from FTP site: http://www.nfb.org/nfbtrans.htm

GOODFEEL

Music braille translation software. Can be used with a music editor and OCR software in order to scan sheet music and create music braille.
Available from Techno-Vision
Approx £495 with music editor and OCR software

Braille embossers – availability and cost

Index range

Basic-S Single-sided embosser will print on tractor-fed continuous paper at 50 cps. Has a graphics mode. Available from various suppliers including Optelec, HumanWare and Blazie Engineering. Approx £1,600

Picture of an Index Basic Embosser

Basic-D

Same as Basic-S but prints double-sided.
Available from various suppliers including Optelec, HumanWare and Techno-Vision.
Approx £2,000

Everest

Prints double-sided at 100 cps. Has a graphics mode.
Available from various suppliers including Techno-Vision, Sight and Sound Technology and HumanWare.
Approx £2,300

4x4 Pro

Prints double-sided onto A3 in order to create an A4 booklet.

Available from various suppliers including Techno-Vision and Sight and Sound.
Approx £4,000 - £4,500

Enabling Technologies range

Thomas Prints single-sided on tractor fed paper at 40 cps. Can print in graphics mode with appropriate software. Available from Optelec. Approx £2,400

Picture of a Thomas Embosser

Romeo

Romeo 25 prints double-sided at 25 cps, Romeo 50 prints single-sided at 50cps and the Romeo Attache is portable and prints at 15 cps.
Available from RNIB.
Approx £1,400 or £1,800

ET60

Similar to the Thomas but can print double-sided at 60 cps or single-sided at 40 cps.
Available from RNIB.
Approx £2,400

Juliet Pro

Similar to theThomas model but prints double-sided at 55 cps
Available from RNIB.
Approx £2,500

Tiger Range

Can emboss braille and tactile images. There are four embossers in the range with speeds from 30 to 100 characters per second.
Available from Force 10
Approx £2,900 - £7,000

How do I produce tactile images?

There are various ways to produce tactile images. Expensive machines such as thermoforms can produce complex effects on durable plastics, but there are also more affordable heat fuser machines can produce images on swell paper. Some embossers can produce tactile diagrams using patterns of dots. Computer programs are also available to produce tactile images. For complex material, it may be worthwhile consulting a specialist in this field, such as the RNIB National Centre for Tactile Diagrams or the Maps and Diagrams Department.

Producing tactile images using swell paper

The Thermo Pen or a special heat diffusing machine is needed to create raised diagrams with swell paper. If a black image is transferred onto the paper (either using a low temperature photocopier or other means), then the black areas are raised when the paper is fed through the diffuser. Swell paper is available from the suppliers below.

Thermo Pen

Available from Techno-vision
Approx £100

Heat Diffusing Machines

Various machines available from Modern World Data, Techno-Vision, Visualeyes and Zychem.
Approx £290 - £700

Printer- fuser

Can print tactile images to the fuser directly from the PC. Available from Jungle Electronics Price on application

Picture of a Printer-Fuser

Producing tactile images using a PC

Tactile Graphics Designer (TGD)

This is a suite of programs for the design of tactile and tactile audio graphics.
Available from Zychem
Approx £95 - £520

Other Products

T3 Talking Tactile Tablet

The T3 is a touch sensitive, multi-sensory device that provides instant audio feedback from tactile images. This combination of sound and touch transforms the way in which people who are visually impaired can access graphical information. It uses tactile overlays on a touch pad. Overlays are available for a range of educational applications and users can make their own.

Contact Royal Nation College for the Blind (RNC) for further details.

OBR

OBR (Optical Braille Recognition) enables you to ‘read’ single and double-sided braille documents using a standard A4 scanner. Primarily designed to be used by people who may work with blind people but are not braille readers.

Available from Techno-Vision
Approx £600

Acoustic hoods and cabinets

Embossing Braille is noisier than using a dot-matrix ink printer, and an acoustic hood is desirable to minimise disturbance. This fits over the embosser but the paper supply sits outside the hood.
Available from the suppliers of braille embossers.
Approx £95 - £500

Where can I buy these products?

Read our list of suppliers contact details

This information sheet is intended as an introduction to the subject for blind and partially sighted people and their supporters. It is not intended as a complete list of all products and services available, nor should it be inferred that products and services mentioned in this information sheet are recommended or endorsed by RNIB.

Technology Information Service
Email: technology@rnib.org.uk
Web: Technology homepage
Tel: 0870 013 9555

Information sheet written June 2006

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Content author: technology@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13