Resources
(updated July 24, 2020)
Resources listed are suggestions for unique materials or equipment that can be helpful in creating tactile graphics. The list is presented in sections by steps in the process and then by production method.
I. Planning and Editing (all methods)
Braille Planning Grid: Pheasantland Industries Braille and Tactile Graphics Unit 605-367-5082
Planning sheets: www.brailleauthority.org/tg Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics, Chapter 3
Re-sizing original print image:
photocopier with enlarging capability
scanner with software to re-size image
Standard Key for Maps: www.brailleauthority.org/tg Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics, Appendix C. List of official ISO abbreviations for states, provinces and countries
Template files for various sizes of paper, margins, your translation program’s codes for braille page numbers. If you produce for a variety of student needs, name each template for its user.
II. Hand-production including Collage and Tooling on paper or foil
Basic supplies:
Aluminum diagramming foil for production of masters:
APH: Sheets or roll https://shop.aph.org/
Dick Blick: 9x12” http://www.dickblick.com/products/amaco-artemboss-aluminum-sheets/
Braille paper or cardstock
Brailon™ thermoform paper (American Thermoform) or PermaBraille Sheets (APH) if you plan to copy the master tactile graphic or are producing for Expanded Core Curriculum activities such as recipes, posted instructions to be used frequently, O&M maps to be carried
Carbon paper
Embossing pads/mats:
Braille Tooling Mat: Pheasantland Industries Braille and Tactile Graphics
Rubber Embossing Pad- APH Tactile Graphics Kit
Clear Vinyl
Naugahyde (synthetic leather)- fabric/sewing stores
Lightbox
Slate, stylus, braille eraser, braillewriter
Velum or tracing paper
Area Texture
Textured Paper Collection: https://www.aph.org/product/feel-n-peel-sheets-carousel-of-textures-ii/
Drywall Mesh, self-adhesive
Fabric: corduroy, needlepoint and cross-stitch backing, dotted swiss, handiwipes, burlap, velvet, felt, heavy weave e.g. upholstery
Other: craft foam sheets, paper with glitter coat‡, sandpaper‡ (See cautions at end of list.)
Textured paper: craft stores, “found” textures such as coffee jackets, light bulb packaging, light-weight corrugated cardboard
Line Texture
Collage Candlewick (round and flat)
Decorative trim (sewing)
Florist’s wire, various sizes (only use cotton-covered wire),
Graphic Art tape, various widths
Liquid paints (puff paint and fabric paint)
Ribbon in various widths and textures
grosgrain- ribbed
satin- smooth
textured- raised dots or lines
ScraPerfect Large No-Clog Writing Cap (for puff paint, glue and other thick liquids) http://www.joann.com
String, yarn, upholstery thread
Wiki-Stix
Point Symbols
Brass brads
Bumper dots
Craft foam pre-cut shapes
CruzinCaps: www.cruizincap.com
Embellishments for scrapbooking
Feel 'n Peel Stickers- APH
Hole punch results (large and small)
Sewing Notions
Grommets, snaps
Velcro spots (both sides)
Tooling:
Area Texture
Texture plates: APH Tactile Graphics Kit, Tactile Marking Mat, aluminum screen, fiberglass screen, plastic base for hooking rugs, needlepoint backing
Wooden or plastic tools for clay/sculpture modeling to emboss texture onto paper or foil
Line Texture
Spur wheels:
https://shop.aph.org/ Line-Drawing Tool Kit, Tactile Graphics Kit, Tactile Compass
http://www.dickblick.com/products/grifhold-aluminum-pounce-wheels
https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/craftool-overstitchers
http://www.joann.com and other sewing supply stores-serrated wheel
Styli: double ended with different sizes of points
Point Symbols
Tongs: APH Tactile Graphics Kit (works much better on foil than on paper)
Adhesives
Glue sticks
MonoAqua by Tombow- Michael’s craft stores, online from Office Depot/Office Max
Xyron Sticker Maker (various widths), permanent and removable types
Note: Gel-based glues work best with paper and other absorbent surfaces.
Things that do not thermoform well
Craft foam- shrinks and rounds its corners/edges
Metal objects (some such as chain, metal washers). However, cotton covered wire works well
Many plastics
Water-based glues e.g. Elmer’s can wrinkle paper that is used for the base of the graphic
‡Cautions:
Sandpaper- can easily damage fingers. Use only smoothest grit unless thermoforming.
Glitter- very sharp and sticks to fingers. It could easily get into an eye.
III. Capsule paper
Braille font for swell graphics
Microcapsule fuser:
Pictures in a Flash (PIAF)- sold in the US by Humanware
Swell Form Graphics Machine- sold in the US by American Thermoform Corporation
(Note: Tactile Image Enhancer [TIE] and Flexipaper are no longer produced.)
Microcapsule paper:
http://www.americanthermoform.com/product/swell-touch-paper/
http://store.humanware.com/hus/catalogsearch/result/?q=tangible+magic+capsule+paper
Hand drawn images:
China markers (grease pencils) and charcoal pencils
0.7 mm to 1.0 mm black gel pens, e.g. Uni-ball vision Elite, Impact RT
Soft lead pencils (the kind artists use)
Black dry erase markers
Producing with capsule paper:
1. Create graphic on computer
2. Print on regular paper and photocopy on capsule paper OR Print directly onto capsule paper with compatible printer OR Draw directly onto capsule paper
3. Process through fuser
4. Embellish with collage or tooling as needed
IV. Computer Embossed Graphics
V. Repositories for images to make tactile graphics
APH Tactile Graphic Image Library http://www.aph.org/tgil/
DIAGRAM http://diagramcenter.org/ Developing ImageShare, a library of image descriptions, tactile graphic files, and 3D printer files.
Anticipated available in August 2020
ViewPlus https://viewplus.com/download
Zychem Ltd and RNIB (UK) http://www.tactilelibrary.com
Harpo (Poland) http://piaf-tactile.com/images-and-graphics/
VI. Commercial Products to Use with, or instead of, tactile graphics
Draftsman or TactileDoodle Drawing Boards- APH
inTACT Sketchpad www.easytactilegraphics.com/product/intact-sketchpad
Sensational Blackboard www.sensationalbooks.com
Embossed graph paper
Braille maps, atlases
APH Kits: DNA-RNA Kit, Basic Science Tactile Graphics, Basic Tactile Anatomy Atlas, Earth Science and Life Science Tactile Graphics, Geometry Tactile Graphics Kit, Human Skeleton- APH, Interactive US Map with tactile Pen (tactile-audio), Braille Transcriber's Kits (Countries and Continents; Math; and US Maps)
Other kits of manipulatives from APH or available in the students classroom.