We produce our braille from printed sources either scanned into the
computer or acquired digitally.  

The process starts in our transcription department where the file is read
and compared with the printed matter, scanning errors corrected, and formatting codes are added. After the file is formatted, it is run through a braille translator. The material is then printed on braille embossers and sent to proofreading.

The proofreading department consists of blind proofreaders and sighted copyholders. The braille material is read and compared to the print magazine or book verifying there are no errors. If an error is found, the material is sent back to transcription to be corrected. After the correction is checked, the material is released to the PED (Plate Embossing Device) where it is embossed onto zinc plates and sent back to proofreading to be read again by a blind proofreader. When the plates are error free, they are sent to the pressroom where the braille will be embossed on paper.

Two different types of presses are used in the manufacture of our braille material. Our pressroom uses hand presses for books and specialized material while Heidelberg presses are used for magazines and other projects where large quantities of braille are desired. The braille pages are then loaded onto wire racks and sent to the bindery to be collated and bound.

It is the bindery department’s job to see that all books and magazines are collated, folded, stitched or put in covers. The pages on the racks from the pressroom are put in the proper order and one copy is collated. After this copy has been verified, the bindery workers collate the rest of the magazine or book pages until the desired amount has been reached. Magazines are then folded and stitched and packed for shipping. Book pages are folded and punched. Each copy is verified before it is put in a hard cover produced in our bookcover department. They are then packed for shipping.

The bookcover department makes each cover from scratch, starting with quality vinyl and ending with the print book information on the spine. As an added bonus, the cover comes with its own attached bookmark for the convenience of the reader. Covers are warranted for two years against breakage under normal conditions.