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Getting into ADA Signs.
- Thread starter CC-CMYK
- Start date
GaSouthpaw
Profane and profane accessories.
Duxbury is (or was) the plug in that most programs use for translation. It will do Type I or Type II Braille.
If your UV printer offers the "ADA" option, then it should have a program that allows you to do the Braille correctly.
There are some online converters that you can copy/paste the info to and from, but- when using them- it's still up to the designer to size/kern them correctly.
If your UV printer offers the "ADA" option, then it should have a program that allows you to do the Braille correctly.
There are some online converters that you can copy/paste the info to and from, but- when using them- it's still up to the designer to size/kern them correctly.
Thanks! This is helpful
Kimberly Hiles
DarkerKat
We do all of our braille for ADA signs in Flexi. It's expensive and clunky software but the auto-serializing makes setting up large batches of signs much easier.
Do you make your files and export them as EPS and use another rip or do you rip in flexi? What printer do you use?
ColorCrest
All around shop helper.
I'm curious what shop software you will use to track the production of the individual signs. Also, will your shop be responsible for installation?
signbrad
New Member
I think our Signlab has a Braille module. It adds the Braille at the correct location under the letters as you type. We then print out the raised letters and Braille on the DCS machine, which usually seems to deposit enough ink to make the dots legal.
We have had lots of expensive problems with the DCS. Boss is not happy and is looking elsewhere for a replacement. But it worked great at the sign show.
Prior to the DCS machine, we sandblasted Corian to achieve raised Braille and tactile letters. You had to blast the entire background evenly. The blast mask then served as a paint mask.
We also use Braille beads. And we use self-adhesive Gravotac, ADA material, by reverse-engraving using the rotary engraver. No method seems to be perfect.
We have had lots of expensive problems with the DCS. Boss is not happy and is looking elsewhere for a replacement. But it worked great at the sign show.
Prior to the DCS machine, we sandblasted Corian to achieve raised Braille and tactile letters. You had to blast the entire background evenly. The blast mask then served as a paint mask.
We also use Braille beads. And we use self-adhesive Gravotac, ADA material, by reverse-engraving using the rotary engraver. No method seems to be perfect.
Right now our shop is small and so are our jobs. If we do big jobs we make spreadsheets and use Trello. We’re always looking for better ways to track jobs. Not sure what we will use going forward. We do offer installation on all of our signs but charge enough to make it worth it.
GaSouthpaw
Profane and profane accessories.
Brad, if you search the forum, I wrote a detailed list of issues that I'd had with the DCS printer and their "support". Too late to make you reconsider now, but maybe it'll help in some way?
signbrad
New Member
Thanks
Kimberly Hiles
DarkerKat
We export the files back to Illustrator and set them up from there depending on the process we're using the produce the signs (Photopolymer, Drilled Braille Beads/Applique, or UV Printed) We have the Mimaki JFX200-2513EX
Kimberly Hiles
DarkerKat
Have you had issues with the raised ink curling and chipping off the the signs from DCS like this?
Attachments
What material is this printed on? Did you use an adhesion promoter?
signbrad
New Member
Yes, I think they have had issues with chipping and peeling of graphics. I don't know details, but I know they have had to re-make quite a few things.
There's a plugin on the Sawmillcreek forum for CorelDraw which does ADA. I tried it and found it to be wrong in several ways but it's doubtful anyone will give a crap.
If you're not doing a ton of it, download the braille font online. Find out what size font sets the braille the correct spacing. There are specs online. Then just dump the translations from one of the online translators.
If you have a lot of signs to do, you can just do it with variable text and an Excel file. It's really not that much work.
If you're not doing a ton of it, download the braille font online. Find out what size font sets the braille the correct spacing. There are specs online. Then just dump the translations from one of the online translators.
If you have a lot of signs to do, you can just do it with variable text and an Excel file. It's really not that much work.
I produce a fair amount of ADA signage in house. I used to do the braille beads after holes were drilled with an old xenetech rotary engraver. This process was laborious but did work. We then purchased a DCS small format UV machine. This did increase our productivity tremendously, however the machine, support, and company as a whole left a lot to be desired. Do some research and buyer beware when dealing with DCS. At the time they seemed to have the lock on UV braille printing technology. After several years of fighting with my DCS machine(s) I searched for a new option and I found the Mutoh XperJet 661-UF and I love it. The print quality is far superior and it is a very solid and reliable machine. We use Flexi design and VerteLith Rip. Almost all of the signs are printed on a ADA approved acrylic substrate 1/8" works best usually. Good Luck!