[nabentre] Braille business cards.

[Lynn Zelvin]

Hi,

I printed my last set of business cards myself using a Juliet 
embosser that has the ability to accept individual sheet fed paper 
one at a time. I got packages from a stationary supply store of both 
business card sheets and 8X5 index cards. I sacrificed a sheet of 
business cards and another of index cards to getting the spacing 
right as it was really a trick but once it was done it worked well. I 
did need help from someone at enabling to work out part of it. I was 
then able to feed the cards first through an ink jet printer and then 
the embosser. I think I used a Word business card template but I did 
need a sighted person to make sure it looked right. Alternatively, if 
you have a scanner with OCr software that preserves format, something 
I can do with the mainstream software that comes with my HP scanner, 
you can at least assure yourself that all the text oriented out where 
you  hoped it would.    Desoite the fact that these cards come in 
packages with code numbers that are supposed to make sure word sets 
all the right margins and spacing to fit the cards, none of that 
visual process is perfect yet. I ended up with sets of small cards 
that had standard business card look on one side and my name, company 
and phone number in the largest print that would fit on the other and 
some that also had braille. Turns out the Braille does make it harder 
to read the print so I didn't do it for all. Then I made up index 
cards that had all the info on the small cards in either large print 
or braille. The later were much more popular even though they don't 
fit as easily in a pocket. I figure the small cards were good  for 
showing sighted people what can be done but blind and low vision 
people tended, as I would, to go for larger cards and more information.
The down side to this process is that the cards sold for this purpose 
are slightly thinner than standard business cards and therefore are 
somewhat less professional looking. Also, even with a plain card with 
no graphics you   The advantage is  being able to re-do them quickly 
when changes need to be made

Other things I've done were to use the time on a plane trip to a 
conference to individually braille business cards using a slate, and 
a stylus that was    sharpened a little using a sharpening stone to 
get more durable dots, also the sharpening makes it easier for people 
like me who are not great slate users.

It is very possible  to write on business cards using a perkins 
braille writer - you need to put in a piece of regular paper with the 
cards as   otherwise you need to position the cards with too much 
margin.  to fit what you need. It takes a bit more fussing to figure 
it out but once you get the hang of it you can just pound them out.

Another option using a braille writer is to find clear labeling 
paper, something less thick than the embossables - I think some of 
the labeling paper that was sold with tractor feed and which may 
still be out there works well. You don't have to be perfect about 
spacing because you will cut it out to fit the cards (I recommend 
using a paper cutter, it's much harder to get done neatly using scissors)

I have worked with the little business card embossers from APH 
because a place I worked for got them. The idea is good but you are a 
little more limited as to what you can fit on a card. Using the 
methods above you can fit a couple more characters per line than APH 
permits and . I believe an extra line. And you can do it the exact 
way you want. I don't believe you can communicate to aph that you 
want a web site or email address in computer braille without 
indicators  but I am also not sure about that one.

I also  know  you can find places to do this for you if you lack the 
time or ability, but you could probably also find a local unemployed 
blind person to feed cards through a Braille writer or using a slate 
for the same money and with the convenience that you can get them 
done as needed   and make changes easily as needed, etc. Since print 
cards can be made up almost overnight if you need them, the ability 
to then bring them to someone who can perhaps have the braille done 
the same day or the next means you get a lot of flexibility.



Lynn Zelvin
   
-------------- next part --------------
Hi,
I printed my last set of business cards myself using a Juliet embosser that has the ability to accept individual sheet fed paper one at a time. I got packages from a stationary supply store of both business card sheets and 8X5 index cards. I sacrificed a sheet of business cards and another of index cards to getting the spacing right as it was really a trick but once it was done it worked well. I did need help from someone at enabling to work out part of it. I was then able to feed the cards first through an ink jet printer and then the embosser. I think I used a Word business card template but I did need a sighted person to make sure it looked right. Alternatively, if you have a scanner with OCr software that preserves format, something I can do with the mainstream software that comes with my HP scanner, you can at least assure yourself that all the text oriented out where you? hoped it would.??? Desoite the fact that these cards come in packages with code numbers that are supposed to make sure word sets all the right margins and spacing to fit the cards, none of that visual process is perfect yet. I ended up with sets of small cards that had standard business card look on one side and my name, company and phone number in the largest print that would fit on the other and some that also had braille. Turns out the Braille does make it harder to read the print so I didn't do it for all. Then I made up index cards that had all the info on the small cards in either large print or braille. The later were much more popular even though they don't fit as easily in a pocket. I figure the small cards were good? for showing sighted people what can be done but blind and low vision people tended, as I would, to go for larger cards and more information.
The down side to this process is that the cards sold for this purpose are slightly thinner than standard business cards and therefore are somewhat less professional looking. Also, even with a plain card with no graphics you?? The advantage is? being able to re-do them quickly when changes need to be made
Other things I've done were to use the time on a plane trip to a conference to individually braille business cards using a slate, and a stylus that was??? sharpened a little using a sharpening stone to get more durable dots, also the sharpening makes it easier for people like me who are not great slate users.
It is very possible? to write on business cards using a perkins braille writer - you need to put in a piece of regular paper with the cards as?? otherwise you need to position the cards with too much margin.? to fit what you need. It takes a bit more fussing to figure it out but once you get the hang of it you can just pound them out.
Another option using a braille writer is to find clear labeling paper, something less thick than the embossables - I think some of the labeling paper that was sold with tractor feed and which may still be out there works well. You don't have to be perfect about spacing because you will cut it out to fit the cards (I recommend using a paper cutter, it's much harder to get done neatly using scissors)
I have worked with the little business card embossers from APH because a place I worked for got them. The idea is good but you are a little more limited as to what you can fit on a card. Using the methods above you can fit a couple more characters per line than APH permits and . I believe an extra line. And you can do it the exact way you want. I don't believe you can communicate to aph that you want a web site or email address in computer braille without indicators? but I am also not sure about that one.
I also? know? you can find places to do this for you if you lack the time or ability, but you could probably also find a local unemployed blind person to feed cards through a Braille writer or using a slate for the same money and with the convenience that you can get them done as needed?? and make changes easily as needed, etc. Since print cards can be made up almost overnight if you need them, the ability to then bring them to someone who can perhaps have the braille done the same day or the next means you get a lot of flexibility.
Lynn Zelvin
?