An Introduction to Braille

Types of Braille

There are two basic types of Braille that Xenetech software has the capability of handling.  The first is called Grade 1 Braille.  This Braille is a letter for letter translation and should only be used by those that already understand braille well enough to translate the text themselves.  The second type which has become the standard for sign making is Grade 2 Braille.  This Braille consists of abbreviations and conjunctions that are generally accepted.  Xenetech software handles this translations for you.  Before generating and A.D.A. (American Disabilities Act) signs, please read through the brief synopsis of the rules that apply to signs provided in this section.

To translate text into Grade 2 Braille simply type out the lines to be translated.  Then select the line and go to the Line/Group | Xscribe to Braille 2.

Your text will be translated into Braille according to the Braille output type selected in the Misc Menu.

Route out Braille

Route out Braille is the type of Braille that most people in the engraving industry are familiar with.  Using a special cutter like the diagram in the A.D.A. tip sheet, the material is routed out leaving a rounded bump.  Typically the Braille must be engraved at a depth of at least .025" for the desired result.

Routed out Braille should always be padded with spaces.  The extra space added to the beginning of the translation makes the Braille dots more accessible.  Therefore, it is easier to read.

The letter height and the line width of braille cannot be altered.  Xenetech has disabled these options to keep the accuracy of the dot size and the spacing between the dots.

Braille Done as Dots

The next type of Braille is done as dots.  This is used for the Edgarton Braille process.  The translation is used to drill holes in which beads, also called rasters, are placed to create a raised bump or dot.  this process is patented and a license must be obtained from Accent Signage.  This process can be used on plastic, aluminum, brass, and steel.  Rasters are available in plastic, glass, brass, and several grades of steel.  The different grades of steel offer different finishes.

Accent Signage holds a patent on this process of creating Braille text on signs.  To obtain a license to use this method, contact Accent Signage @ 612-377-9156.

Braille as Outline Circles

Finally, we have Braille done as outline circles.  This type can be used in sandblasting processes, or photo-polymer processes.  For each process film can be cut by a vinyl cutter/plotter, or the circles can be used as black and white artwork.  This is the least popular of the Braille output types.

The next part of the job setup should be the text.  Outline fonts must meet all the requirements set by the A.D.A.  The fonts can be a simple serif or sans serif type, but more sans serif fonts meet the guidelines.  Serif fonts have tails or tapers on the corners of the letters.  Sans serif fonts have square corners.  

The symbols needed for a Braille sign can be found in the fonts; ada.fnt, adasyms.fnt, x01iavnl.fnt, x04ib.fnt.  Please refer to your font manual for the keystroke to match the symbol you need to use.  The pictogram does not need to be raised 1/32" off the substrate material.  It can be reversed engraved, screen printed, etc...  However, the symbol must fit within a 6 inch bordered area.

The text and the Braille translation should always be placed below the pictogram and never above.  The text does not need to be justified a certain way according to the guidelines.

When using route out Braille on a sign that has multiple lines of translation, those lines need to be combined and routed out in one box.  First translate each line of text and group the lines together.

Next, click on the top center polymarker and drag the height of the box down until it is smaller than the combined height of the three lines of text.  The lines will now be joined together.

Finally, with the group selected go to the Line/Group menu and select paragraph group.  The cutter path will be connected to prevent unnecessary cutter ups.  Also, the area for the Braille will be routed out in a rectangle leaving a cleaner look then leaving the lines on the plate individually.

Braille signs are sometimes placed into modular frames.  These frames usually require that the insert, finished sign, have radius corners.  Using grid cut out with a radius corner can help you to fit the finished sign to the frame.  To use radius corners grid cut out must first be selected.  then go to the Misc menu and select setup.  In the setup dialog, find the field for grid cut out corner radius and enter the radius that matches the radius of the frame.  If the grid cut out corner radius is set to '0', a normal square corner cut out will be performed.  Remember to take into consideration the diameter of your cutter that is used for the cut out.  In the size plate/workspace dialog found under the page menu, set your multiple plate offset value to the diameter of your cutter.  This will allow enough space for your cutter to give you a finished sign the same size as your single plate.

In the example above, the finished plate will have a 1/2" corner radius.  We have accounted for a 1/16: parallel cutter to cut the plate out.