INTRODUCTION [0]

WHAT IS CAPSULE PAPER? [0]

TECHNIQUES [0]

1. Keep It Simple!
2. Contrast
3. Add meaningful labels
4. Other Resources:

GETTING STARTED [0]

1. Use regular or scratch paper first!
2. Prepare your own Graphics Kit
3. Re-Use Capsule Paper

STEP 1. Select the Image

STEP 2. Process the image

1. 'Low Tech'
2. 'High Tech'

STEP 3. Adding Labels

1. Add braille labels - 'Low Tech'
2. Add braille labels - 'High Tech'
3. Add braille and non-tactile print labels

STEP 4. Special Effects

1. Line Thickness
2. Textures
3. Reverse Printing

IDEAS FOR APPLICATIONS [0]

PIAF FEATURES [0]

1. Safety Features:
2. Operating Features
3. Power Requirements

CONTACT INFORMATION [0]

Download this document in text format [0]

Several devices currently exist that enable the automatic production
of tactile graphic material using a heat sensitive paper, known
as capsule paper. These devices are known generically as Tactile
Image Makers, and in this publication we refer to PIAF - Pictures
in a Flash, a leading example of a Tactile Image Maker. PIAF enables
high quality tactile graphics, suitable for blind and visually impaired
people, to be made quickly and easily. A full list of PIAF's features,
including important safety considerations can be found on page 15.
PIAF is being used in a wide range of applications including;

Education: All areas of education have a need to be able to produce
tactile graphics for blind and VI children. Traditional methods
are time consuming, and often don't allow the production of multiple
copies. In early education, PIAF can be used to introduce basic
concepts and assist in the development of an expanded tactile vocabulary.
In secondary and tertiary education, blind and VI children are faced
with an accelerating challenge to access graphical information in
just about all subject areas. Additionally, PIAF enables the production
of high quality, localised area maps for orientation and mobility
training, and for campus or building maps for new students.

Employment: Knowing what a Windows layout on a computer screen
looks like, can be the first step in understanding how it works.
Understanding the organisational structure of a business can help
a new employee see "the big picture". Sharing ideas and concepts,
be it a marketing strategy or a programmer's flow chart, can be
done in one or two diagrams instead of thousands of words. The applications
are as varied as the employment situations of all blind people.

At Home: And just about everyone has a special interest in a particular
subject. Having accessible graphics can add a whole new dimension
to those interests. Parents of a blind child know what those special
interests are and with PIAF can quickly produce relevant pictures
and graphics. Spouses and siblings can all share in filling the
information needs of their blind companions. Want to make an accessible
chess board? Want to see the difference between a killer whale and
a humpback whale? Want to see which part of Sweden your great grandparents
came from? PIAF can help answer the questions of everyday life.

And above all, PIAF is being used BY blind people. From learning
about handwriting and signature writing, to drawing and taking the
first tentative steps to expressing themselves graphically, blind
people now have a tool to start breaking down the barrier of graphics.

fotto@aph.org [1]

American Printing House for the Blind - www.aph.org [2]

"Creating Good Tactile Graphics"

Two Video Set - (includes booklet and worksheets). Also available
from the American Printing House for the Blind

National Centre for Tactile Diagrams

University of Hertfordshire Hatfield AL10, Web: www.nctd.org.uk [3]

"Tactile Graphics" - Book by Polly Edman

Available from the American Foundation for the Blind

11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300

New York, NY 10001

Tel: 212.502.7661

FAX: 212.502.7777

http://www.afb.org

Tactile Graphics, An Overview and Resource Guide

John A. Gardner

Science Access Project

Oregon State University

Tel: (541) 737 3278

FAX: (541) 737 1683

e-mail: gardner@physics.orst.edu [4]

RVIB - Tactile Graphics Draft Standards. Guidelines and Procedures
for Production.

(Un-published)

Gillian Gale

Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind

www.rvib.org.au [4]

Purdue University

http://www.taevisonline.purdue.edu/index.html [5]

A sample of a Braille TAEVIS Online diagram is included below;

exports@rnib.org.uk [6]

The second low tech approach requires some practice to perfect
but it can work effectively. Use a fine tip felt pen and a regular
braille slate. Holding the slate still you use the felt tip pen
instead of a braille stylus and literally "write" the braille onto
the paper. Remember to always practice this on scrap paper and only
copy onto capsule paper once you are satisfied with the result.

Add braille labels - 'High Tech'

There are now a wide variety of braille fonts that can be installed
onto your computer. A very good reference to these is on the web
pages of the Texas School for the Blind www.tsvbi.edu

These fonts can be added to your word processor (install in Windows
Control Panel - Fonts) and when selected, braille dots appear on
your screen instead of regular letters. By simply typing, using
the braille font, you will produce computer braille. To add contractions
refer to the North American Computer Braille code which is attached
(Appendix B). For example, use the # key to make the Letter Sign
Dots 3456, or use the = key to make 'for' Dots 123456.

This is the RNIB braille font using 23 point and 1.3 X line spacing
(using WordPerfect 6.1)

This makes good readable braille

To make JUMBO braille, simply increase the font size to the desired
level (this is 35 point and 1.6 X line spacing)

Now this is what I call big
braille

Add braille and non-tactile print labels

Often there is a need to have both braille and print labels on
a diagram, particularly where the student has to work with the diagram
at a time when a vision teacher or teachers aide is not present.
However, a print label can be very confusing when it is made tactile,
and unless there is a specific reason such as learning to identify
print characters, they should never be made tactile.

To achieve labels where the braille is tactile and the print is
not, you first need to produce both the braille and print labels
on the draft copy of your diagram. Then photocopy the image and
labels onto the capsule paper. However, before running it through
the PIAF, use masking tape to cover all of the print labels.

Then run the page through the PIAF (with the masking tape in place).
Everything will be raised on the page except what is left under
the masking tape. Remove the masking tape, and you will be left
with a tactile diagram that also has print labels (that are not
tactile).

STEP 4. SPECIAL EFFECTS

Tactile graphics using capsule paper typically have a limited range
of textures and line heights. However, there are some 'tricks of
the trade' that enable some really excellent effects, and increase
the legibility and amount of information on each graphic.

Line Thickness

Using lines of different thicknesses will produce lines of different
heights. A thick line will tend to raise higher than a thin line.
If you introduce some standards your student will recognise certain
types of information without having to be told. For example, always
use a certain thickness for main roads, and a slimmer line for minor
roads.

Textures

It is quite easy to add textures to your diagrams. The easiest
way is to hand draw a pattern (crosses, wavy lines etc) onto the
scrap paper before you photocopy the image onto the capsule paper.
Experiment with this and you will find that there are a range of
textures that you can quickly create and that can be used to distinguish
one area of the image from another.

If a more precise and consistent pattern is required cut and paste
appropriate textures from magazines, newspapers etc. Or alternatively
use your computer to generate patterns (either graphics or repeated
letters - a page of hyphens, or underscores can make a good straight
line pattern). Incorporate these directly into your graphic if using
drawing software or print them out on regular paper and cut and
paste onto your diagram.

Reverse Printing

A very interesting effect can be obtained by printing on the reverse
side of the capsule paper. During the heating process when the capsule
paper is going through the PIAF heat is absorbed from the backside
of the paper causing the capsule paper to bubble to a much greater
height than regular lines on the paper.

Regular height line Reverse printing - higher thicker and unusual
textures

The process for reverse printing is simple. Produce your regular
image on the front of the capsule paper, say a map of the US. Then
hold the capsule paper up to the light or over a light box and on
the reverse side draw in the mountain ranges you want to add to
the map. Fill in the areas selected with black ink.

Then run the capsule paper through the PIAF up-side down with
the temperature setting on high. You may have to do it a couple
of times to get enough heat, but you will certainly notice the results
when they happen. If you do not get a high raised and crinkly texture
form on the top side of the capsule paper then the ink in your felt
tip pen is not carbon based. This effect will only work with carbon
based inks. Of course, photocopying onto the reverse side of the
capsule paper will do the trick. And in case you were wondering,
like many great innovations this effect was discovered by accident,
when someone accidentally copied the image onto the wrong side of
the capsule paper!

And this proves the fact that you should never stop experimenting
and trying new things. Capsule paper and the PIAF make the production
of tactile graphics simple and easy and there are undoubtedly a
whole heap of tricks and techniques yet to be discovered. If you
find any make sure you let us know.

info@quantech.com.au [7].