[Blindmath] thoughts on a PIAF please

John Gardner john.gardner at orst.edu
Mon Feb 4 22:01:59 UTC 2013 

Hi Brian, the Tiger embosser should give quite a bit higher resolution than
swell paper, not the reverse.  I guess I should write an article for
access2science.com on optimizing Tiger graphics.  

I don't understand your statement that "everything is a texture".  You can
certainly optimize line art in various ways.  One is to use black lines
about 2 to 3 points wide and default settings.  These are thicker than
average lines, so there is also a "thin line intensity" setting in the Tiger
tab.  The higher the number the higher the dots for thin lines.  

One more bit of advice.  Much art seems to have slightly off-white
background, and by default this embosses with low dots on Tiger.  If you set
the Tiger tab contrast setting to a small integer, you can make these light
textured areas disappear without changing much of anything else.

I'm always happy to give advice on optimizing those graphics.  Expertly
used, there's no way a PIAF can compete with Tiger in information density!

Be well.

John Gardner

-----Original Message-----
From: Blindmath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Brian
Richwine
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 11:50
To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] thoughts on a PIAF please

Thanks. I guess we may need to look into purchasing a copier! The tiger
output works for some of our students and with simple to moderately complex
diagrams. However, since everything is a texture, it limits the different
types of textures we can create and sets a pretty low resolution of
information density. We find we have to make our arrow heads and data point
indicators much larger, for example.


On Mon, Feb 4, 2013 at 2:41 PM, Dorine in 't Veld <dorine at dvlop.nl> wrote:

> Hi Brian,
>
> We tried, but the ink won't really dry and stains very easily, even 
> after swelling.
>
> @Susan, thanks for your answer. (I hope I get permission to give it a 
> try:)). Do you select the option 'thick paper'? Any other precautions?
>
> Dorine
>
>
> Op 2013-02-04 20:21, Brian Richwine schreef:
>
>  Has anyone had good results printing directly onto swell paper from a
>> modern ink jet printer, or other printer that won't overheat the paper?
>>
>> We used to do this, however our old ink jet printer died. We've tried 
>> a couple new ink jet printers, however the inks do not work as well. 
>> We can't get good contrast between the printed and non-printed 
>> parts... and slowing down the paper only causes the whole page to 
>> swell. I read through the troubleshooting section in the BANA Tactile 
>> Graphics guide and it suggested that high-carbon inks work best so it 
>> seems that selecting a printer based upon what ink is uses is key. 
>> Any ideas?
>>
>> We'd like to start using the swell paper again, because our students 
>> don't like the output from the Tiger Embosser we purchased.
>>
>> Thanks for any suggestions!
>>    -Brian
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Feb 4, 2013 at 2:03 AM, Susan Osterhaus <osterhauss at tsbvi.edu
>> >wrote:
>>
>>  Hi Dorine,
>>>
>>> Once I create my black line master, I print it on regular paper in 
>>> any printer. Then, I copy it onto the SwellTouch paper by sending 
>>> the paper through the by-pass tray on the side of the copy machine 
>>> one sheet at a time. We purchase our SwellTouch paper from American 
>>> Thermoform Company, but Humanware has the same paper. I think they 
>>> both import it from Europe or elsewhere. Reprotronics has something 
>>> called Flexi-Paper. I have never printed directly onto the SwellTouch
paper.
>>>
>>> Susan
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Blindmath 
>>> [mailto:blindmath-bounces@**nfbnet.org<blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org>
>>> ]
>>> On Behalf Of Dorine
>>> in 't Veld
>>> Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2013 5:06 AM
>>> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
>>> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] thoughts on a PIAF please
>>>
>>> Hi Susan,
>>>
>>> What swell paper and what printer do you use? Do you print on the 
>>> swellpaper directly?
>>> We had trouble printing with a laser printer on Zyfuse paper; it was 
>>> too hot, so the paper swelled, got sticky and jammed the printer 
>>> when running through.
>>>
>>> Dorine in 't Veld
>>>
>>> Op 2013-01-25 23:54, Susan Osterhaus schreef:
>>>
>>>> I really like creating my geometry tactile graphics on SwellTouch 
>>>> paper and running them through a PIAF. All the angles are so nice 
>>>> and crisp. I create them using the MS Word drawing program. I first 
>>>> create the braille-labeled one using the SwellBraille font (in 24 
>>>> pt size) recommended by the BANA Tactile Graphics Guidelines. You 
>>>> can obtain the font for free by downloading from the Duxbury or the
TSBVI website.
>>>> http://duxburysystems.com/**product2.asp?product=The%**
>>>> 20Braille%20TrueTyp<http://duxburysystems.com/product2.asp?product=
>>>> The%20Braille%20TrueTyp>
>>>> e%20
>>>> Fonts&level=free&action=pur or
>>>> http://www.tsbvi.edu/**resources/1087-download-**
>>>> braille-and-asl-specialty<http://www.tsbvi.edu/resources/1087-downl
>>>> oad-braille-and-asl-specialty> -fon ts  Then I go back in and 
>>>> change all the braille to a large print font, and I have the exact 
>>>> same graph for my low vision students. It is both a great tactile 
>>>> graphic and a wonderful black line graphic for the low vision 
>>>> students. If you have a student who is transitioning from print to 
>>>> braille, this can really give them a fun headstart. If they still 
>>>> have some vision, they can both see and feel the graphic on 
>>>> SwellTouch paper.
>>>> You might start with large print and then transition over to braille.
>>>>
>>>> Susan
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Lewicki, Maureen 
>>>> [mailto:mlewicki at bcsd.neric.**org<mlewicki at bcsd.neric.org>
>>>> ]
>>>> Sent: Friday, January 25, 2013 2:15 PM
>>>> To: SusanOsterhaus at tsbvi.edu; Blind Math list for those interested 
>>>> in mathematics
>>>> Subject: thoughts on a PIAF please
>>>>
>>>> Good Day! Is anyone using a PIAF to produce graphics quickly? 
>>>> Please let me know what you think of it. Thanks!
>>>>
>>>> Maureen Murphy Lewicki
>>>> Teacher of Visually Impaired
>>>> Bethlehem Central Schools
>>>> (518)439-7681
>>>> "When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is 
>>>> wrought in our life, or in the life of another." Helen Keller
>>>>
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