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Thread: Building Grade 2 Braille

  1. #1
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    Building Grade 2 Braille

    Attached to this message is a Corel Draw X3 drawing that I just started using to create grade 2 braille for signs. The actual braille layout is derived from using a braille translator program but the program will not produce the font for engraving, it simply provides a graphic representation of the text in grade 2 braille.

    Until I can find a suitable grade 2 braille font that is affordable this procedure allows me to save common words I use for commercial signs and quickly copy and paste the braille (converted to curves) into the drawing for engraving. This drawing will be updated frequently, the revision and date will be updated to reflect the latest changes.

    Anyone who would like to provide input or make changes to this drawing please feel free to revise the drawing as necessary and post your revision here in this thread.

    The tools for adding your own words are included in the drawing. There is a six position braille graph that you can use to drop the large dots provided to create new text. You will need a source for grade 2 braille either a translator or some type of document.

    REV 01-05-28-07
    Attached Files Attached Files
    Last edited by Keith Outten; 05-28-2007 at 10:09 PM.

  2. #2
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    Corel X3 Drawing Rev02_05-29-07

    3 more words converted.
    Rev02_05-29-07
    Attached Files Attached Files

  3. #3
    Keith, I'll certainly add a few words I have to it when I get a moment. In quickly looking at it, all of it appears to be in lower case, which, if I read the requirements correctly, is incorrect. I believe everything has to be in upper case, which adds the symbols for capital letters in front of what you typed.

    I could be mistaken, but from memory, I seem to recall that being the standard.

    Good idea and good work!
    Lasers : Trotec Speedy 300 75W, Trotec Speedy 300 80W, Galvo Fiber Laser 20W
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    Real name Steve but that name was taken on the forum. Used Middle name. Call me Steve or Scott, doesn't matter.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scott Shepherd View Post
    Keith, I'll certainly add a few words I have to it when I get a moment. In quickly looking at it, all of it appears to be in lower case, which, if I read the requirements correctly, is incorrect. I believe everything has to be in upper case, which adds the symbols for capital letters in front of what you typed.

    I could be mistaken, but from memory, I seem to recall that being the standard.

    Good idea and good work!
    I found a great resource on this last Thursday night, and I've been going through it to learn.

    I believe the discussion of capital letters and wording is lesson 2. I plan on printing it and researching it thoroughly when I get near a printer.

    Library of Congress, Instructional Manual for Braille Transcribing
    _Aaron_
    SawmillCreek Administrator

  5. #5
    This is what's making me think it needs to be all capital letters, from the ada.gov manual :

    4.30.4* Raised and Brailled Characters and Pictorial Symbol Signs (Pictograms).
    Letters and numerals shall be raised 1/32 in, upper case, sans serif or simple serif type and shall be accompanied with Grade 2 Braille.


    If I'm reading that correctly, all raised letters must be capital, and the braille must match the raised letters. You can't put one thing in caps and one in lowercase, as they wouldn't match.


    I could certainly be wrong, but that's the way I've read it on the signs I have done.
    Lasers : Trotec Speedy 300 75W, Trotec Speedy 300 80W, Galvo Fiber Laser 20W
    Printers : Mimaki UJF-6042 UV Flatbed Printer , HP Designjet L26500 61" Wide Format Latex Printer, Summa S140-T 48" Vinyl Plotter
    Router : ShopBot 48" x 96" CNC Router Rotary Engravers : (2) Xenetech XOT 16 x 25 Rotary Engravers

    Real name Steve but that name was taken on the forum. Used Middle name. Call me Steve or Scott, doesn't matter.

  6. #6
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    Scott,

    Raised letters are upper case. Braille is lower case other than the first letter of a sentence, etc. Since these are meant for signs lowercase letters are required.
    I will post my source for this information as soon as I get back to my shop.

    .
    Last edited by Keith Outten; 05-29-2007 at 3:56 PM.

  7. #7
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    Upper or Lower case letters

    Raised tactile text must be upper case. Text must have a character width (based on the upper-case letter "O") falling between 55% and 110% of the character height (based on the upper-case letter "I"). For visual /tactile text, letters must be 5/8" to 2" high. Raised text shall be a minimum of 1/32" from the sign surface.

    Text that is visual only can use any combination of upper and lower case characters.

    When adding braille to ADA signs you must use Grade II braille. The new guidelines also specify that braille words be lower case unless the word is the first word of a sentence, a proper noun or name, an individual letter of the alphabet, an initial or an acronym.

    The sentence above is a bit vague but I interpret it to mean that only the first letter would be capitalized when a braille font is used and the word is a noun, individual letter of the alphabet, initial or acronym.

    .
    Last edited by Keith Outten; 05-29-2007 at 6:31 PM.

  8. #8
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    Scott,

    Aaron figured out that you can copy and paste the results from the braille translator to Corel Draw, then you have to convert the weird text table to your braille front, then to 24 point then convert to artistic text.

    It works and makes the $19.95 braille translator well worth the money spent

    If you can't figure out the procedure from my directions above send me your phone number via PM and I will try to explain the procedure.


  9. #9
    Good find. I tried cutting and pasting when I first opened it, and got the funky word. Didn't think to convert it to the braille font and be done with it. I have a couple I'll add when I get a few minutes at work.

    I think I'll give the DOJ a call on their help line and ask for clarification on the capital letters. I'm confused now. I'll let you know what I find out.

    I was up at Tyson's Corner this past weekend, went to a restroom in a food court area. Signs everywhere, not a single one ADA compliant. No raised letters and no braille. Cheaters, it's not fair, I tell ya!
    Lasers : Trotec Speedy 300 75W, Trotec Speedy 300 80W, Galvo Fiber Laser 20W
    Printers : Mimaki UJF-6042 UV Flatbed Printer , HP Designjet L26500 61" Wide Format Latex Printer, Summa S140-T 48" Vinyl Plotter
    Router : ShopBot 48" x 96" CNC Router Rotary Engravers : (2) Xenetech XOT 16 x 25 Rotary Engravers

    Real name Steve but that name was taken on the forum. Used Middle name. Call me Steve or Scott, doesn't matter.

  10. #10
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    Scott,

    Look on the bright side, ADA signs are proffitable and it seems there are few who make them properly so there is little competition.

    I spent the day yesterday laser cutting text and numbers, and glueing raised text and installing braille balls in door signs. I have stacks of door signs everywhere in various stages of completion. I should have over 450 door signs completed and installed by the end of June before I start the next batch.

    .

  11. #11
    Just got off the phone with the DOJ (or whatever agency answers the phone) and the woman repeatedly told me that the grade 2 braille must be in all capital letters. I asked the question about 3 different ways to make sure she understood that I wasn't asking about the raised letters, I was specifically asking about the braille. She appeared to be very clear on what I was asking, and gave me the same answer each time, it needs to be all capital letters to be compliant, for what's that's worth.

    The number to call is : 1-800-514-0301 and once they start talking, press the "7" button. That'll bypass all the menus and send you right to a specialist. Their hours are short. Today they didn't open until 10:30am, and I kept hearing something special about Thursday hours.

    If anyone calls and gets a different answer, please let us know.
    Lasers : Trotec Speedy 300 75W, Trotec Speedy 300 80W, Galvo Fiber Laser 20W
    Printers : Mimaki UJF-6042 UV Flatbed Printer , HP Designjet L26500 61" Wide Format Latex Printer, Summa S140-T 48" Vinyl Plotter
    Router : ShopBot 48" x 96" CNC Router Rotary Engravers : (2) Xenetech XOT 16 x 25 Rotary Engravers

    Real name Steve but that name was taken on the forum. Used Middle name. Call me Steve or Scott, doesn't matter.

  12. #12
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    Did a little search on the web and found a document from Accent Signage which has 2 interesting things in it:

    ==========

    5) Braille Message: All messages to be lower case, and may not directly reflect the style of the tactile letters.

    7) In alpha/numeric format, if tactile print reads A324B, in Braille, text should be written: / capital sign / letter / number sign / numerals / letter sign / capital sign / letter. Do not use double capital sign / dot 6 / dot 6.

    ==========

    I would take that to mean that words and phrases are in lower case, but that room numbers or other alpha-numberic text uses upper case. They give an example for left arrow as:

    / “ar” / r / “ow” / space / l / e / f / t /

    Dave Jones -- Epilog Mini-24, 45 watt, CorelDraw X3, Creative Suite CS2

  13. #13
    That would be a direct contradiction to what I was told by them. I urge others to call and let's try and make this clear for everyone.
    Lasers : Trotec Speedy 300 75W, Trotec Speedy 300 80W, Galvo Fiber Laser 20W
    Printers : Mimaki UJF-6042 UV Flatbed Printer , HP Designjet L26500 61" Wide Format Latex Printer, Summa S140-T 48" Vinyl Plotter
    Router : ShopBot 48" x 96" CNC Router Rotary Engravers : (2) Xenetech XOT 16 x 25 Rotary Engravers

    Real name Steve but that name was taken on the forum. Used Middle name. Call me Steve or Scott, doesn't matter.

  14. #14
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    Scott,

    The information I posted above was found in an article written by Accent Signage Systems, Inc. I should have quoted the source earlier.

    .

  15. #15
    So who's right, Accent Signs or Department of Justice?
    Lasers : Trotec Speedy 300 75W, Trotec Speedy 300 80W, Galvo Fiber Laser 20W
    Printers : Mimaki UJF-6042 UV Flatbed Printer , HP Designjet L26500 61" Wide Format Latex Printer, Summa S140-T 48" Vinyl Plotter
    Router : ShopBot 48" x 96" CNC Router Rotary Engravers : (2) Xenetech XOT 16 x 25 Rotary Engravers

    Real name Steve but that name was taken on the forum. Used Middle name. Call me Steve or Scott, doesn't matter.

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