Generating tactile drawings.

[Linux for blind general discussion]

If we want parity, we need real tactile displays. Most sighted people I know don't own printers either. They certainly don't print out a new hard-copy graphic each time they zoom or pan each image that they view. We will have a better chance of keeping up when the Graphiti tactile display eventually decreases in price, and is more widespread.


Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 31, 2022, at 12:23 PM, Linux for blind general discussion <blinux-list at redhat.com> wrote:
> 
> [ Sorry; hit send before I was really ready.  -r ]
> 
> Here's Wikipedia's take on swell paper, buried in a page on tactile graphics:
> 
>> Swell paper has a special coating of heat-reactive chemicals. Microcapsules
> of alcohol implanted in the paper fracture when exposed to heat and make the
> surface of the paper inflate. Placing black ink on the paper prior to a heat
> process provides control over the raised surface areas. ...
> 
> -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactile_graphic
> 
>> ... how do you transfer images from the normal paper to the swell paper
> 
> I used a multifunction device (fax, printer, scanner) as a copying machine.
> The reason I did this is that the ink in my normal printer smeared on the
> rather slick surface of the swell paper.  I guess the ink in the copier comes
> out a bit dryer...
> 
> FYI, any device used to process swell paper needs to have a reasonably
> straight paper path, to reduce the risk of jamming, damaging the paper, etc.
> Also, the ink needs to heat up significantly when exposed to the bright
> light in the expansion unit.  Carbon-based inks seem to work well for this.
> 
> - Rich Morin
> 
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