ChanceyFleetCricut cutting machines, ubiquitous in schools, libraries and makerspaces, can be used to make embossed or stenciled #TactileGraphics. A Braille embosser costs at least $1500 — Cricuts cost a fifth of that or less. Today I learned that I can handle the hardware and make great stencils: all that holds a Blind #maker back is a set of unlabeled controls in the software. Does anyone know somebody at #Cricut I could talk to about improving #accessibility? Boosters beloved on this one!
As background, I'm a Blind technologist and educator. Five years ago I founded the Dimensions Lab at New York Public Library — we believe it may be the world's only free and open lab for DIY creation of tactile graphics. We offer graphics and Braille embossing, swellform, thermoform, 3d printing and analog drawing tools, + Cricut now. It's mission-critical for us to find a way to use cricut that doesn't involve a sighted interpreter, so that in good conscience we can teach and recommend it.
Sighted people tend to think that images are inherently difficult for Blind people to handle but nope — tactile graphics have been around in some form for centuries. Our actual barriers are avoidable image poverty, not getting enough exposure to get good; tough times getting training; expensive equipment; and inaccessible processes/interfaces. Cricut is just a couple of software button labels away from becoming a powerful lever to lift every one of those barriers.
Let me acknowledge colleagues who inspired me to try this — tactile artists Ann Cunningham and Nicole Johnson, and the incomparable John and MaFe who use Cricut to power a mail-and-Zoom tactile art club in Colombia. If you want to learn from the champions, here's their tutorial: https://btactile.com/drawingclub
jakob.pxi@ChanceyFleet I have recently ordered an xtool M1 to experiment with tactile printing among other things. It is a multi-purpose laser-engraving machine that can also cut w CriCut blades. It is slightly more expensive but maybe has better affordances in the software. Is there something I could test for you?
@ChanceyFleet This is so exciting!
IAintShootinMis@ChanceyFleet
Silhouette is compatible with almost all Cricut accessories, appears to have the buttons labeled, and doesnt have the same harmful paywalled/walled garden problems that Cricut introduced around custom artwork etc...
Here's a link describing the issues:
https://www.craftingspree.com/blog/cricut-image-upload-limit
While they grandfathered in older accounts, we personally got rid of our machines and switched to Silhouette to avoid any feature locking or other nonsense now that Cricut have shown their intent
Jedediah Strong Smith@iaintshootinmis @ChanceyFleet There is also an opensource package to run some Silhouette projects. https://www.codelv.com/projects/inkcut/
It might be easier to get something from FOSS than try to get a corporation to let down their paywall.
@iaintshootinmis @ChanceyFleet I was curious to how far I could make it with just FOSS software and my Silhouette Portrait® based on your idea.
Stack: Inkscape, Text -> Braille Inkscape Plugin, Inkcut.
I only tested it with the knife and card stock since I don't have embossing material or embossing ball.
https://inkscape.org/
https://github.com/mondeja/inkscape-braille-l18n-ext
https://www.codelv.com/projects/inkcut/
Rowland Mosbergen@ChanceyFleet very cool!