A refreshable Braille display device includes a housing having a surface containing a set of tactile markers thereon; a carriage in cooperation with the housing, the carriage having a surface containing a tactile marker thereon and a series of individual refreshable Braille cells positioned above the tactile marker for tactile reading by a user; and a moving mechanism for moving the carriage relative to the housing such that the tactile marker on the surface of the carriage is aligned with one of the tactile markers in the set of tactile markers on the surface of the housing.

A sign manufacturing system includes a printing base, a printing panel with a top layer, pressure sensitive adhesive and a transparent bottom layer, a bridge component, a sliding assembly, including an assembly body, a cutting laser, a liquid ejection unit, a curing laser, and a control unit, such that the cutting laser cuts out characters in the top layer without affecting the bottom layer, and such that the liquid ejection unit deposits spherical domes of printing fluid on exposed surface of the transparent bottom layer to form a braille text.

A sign manufacturing system includes a printing base, a printing panel with a top layer, pressure sensitive adhesive and a transparent bottom layer, a bridge component, a sliding assembly, including an assembly body, a cutting laser, a liquid ejection unit, a curing laser, and a control unit, such that the cutting laser cuts out characters in the top layer without affecting the bottom layer, and such that the liquid ejection unit deposits spherical domes of printing fluid on exposed surface of the transparent bottom layer to form a braille text.

When forming a gloss layer, an UV curable ink in a semi-cured state is cured when spread more than when forming matte layers, whereby a surface smoothness of the gloss layer becomes higher than the matte layers, and on the other hand, the matte layers can be formed thick. Therefore, a braille body having the necessary height and the smooth tactual sense while having a layered structure can be formed.

When forming a gloss layer, an UV curable ink in a semi-cured state is cured when spread more than when forming matte layers, whereby a surface smoothness of the gloss layer becomes higher than the matte layers, and on the other hand, the matte layers can be formed thick. Therefore, a braille body having the necessary height and the smooth tactual sense while having a layered structure can be formed.

A computer 10 generates image data of a density image to be printed on a print medium M including an expansion layer M1 that expands by heating. First density image data for printing on one surface FS of the print medium M to expand the expansion layer M1 is prepared first. The first density image data is then converted so that the density of a part of a target region having the same density included in a first density image P1 represented by the first density image data is higher than the density of the other part of the target region, to generate third density image data.

A computer 10 generates image data of a density image to be printed on a print medium M including an expansion layer M1 that expands by heating. First density image data for printing on one surface FS of the print medium M to expand the expansion layer M1 is prepared first. The first density image data is then converted so that the density of a part of a target region having the same density included in a first density image P1 represented by the first density image data is higher than the density of the other part of the target region, to generate third density image data.

Improved Braille printers and Braille printer components for embossing Braille characters onto a paper substrate are disclosed. Methods of making using Braille printers and Braille printer components to form Braille characters on a paper substrate are also disclosed.

Improved Braille printers and Braille printer components for embossing Braille characters onto a paper substrate are disclosed. Methods of making using Braille printers and Braille printer components to form Braille characters on a paper substrate are also disclosed.

A first pattern P1 is formed with a first material for converting electromagnetic wave energy into heat energy, on a first surface BS of a print medium M including an expansion layer M2 that expands by heating. A second pattern P2 for expanding the expansion layer M2 to complement expansion of the expansion layer M2 by the first pattern P1 is formed with a second material for converting electromagnetic wave energy into heat energy, on a second surface FS which is an opposite surface of the print medium M to the first surface BS and is closer to the expansion layer M2 than the first surface BS. The first material forming the first pattern P1 is irradiated with electromagnetic waves from the first surface BS. The second material forming the second pattern P2 is irradiated with electromagnetic waves from the second surface FS.