1 Unless a manuscript has been written originally in Braille, it needs to be transcribed. This is generally done in one of three ways. A typist using a special six-key typing machine may re-type the manuscript in Braille. Braille transcribers are specially trained and certified. Professional Braille typists must take a two-year training course administered by the National Library Service for the Blind, and pass a accreditation examination. So though this method is generally more laborious than the newer, computer-based alternatives, Braille typists bring their insight and experience to the work, and assure a high level of quality. The two alternate methods utilize computer software to make the translation. Text in English may be fed into a computer program through a scanner, which reads the text electronically and stores it in Braille form. In this way, previously published material such as a novel by Dickens or an article from The New York Timescan be converted into Braille. In the case of a new publication such as a journal released simultaneously in Braille and in conventional format, the text may be already stored on a computer disk. Special software developed for this purpose converts the text on the disk into Braille. Braille conversion technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated as well as speedy. Entire books can be converted in seconds.
Proofreading
2 If the manuscript has been typed by a Braille transcriber, it is now ready for proofreading. If the manuscript has been converted using computer software, it must be printed out. Braille printers similar to other computer printers produce the manuscript. Then the manuscript is proofread so that any errors can be corrected or changes made before the manuscript is published. At this stage, a blinder reader and a sighted reader work side by side, comparing the original text with the Braille version.
Making the master
3 After the manuscript is completely proofed and corrected, a master copy of it is made for the printing press. The master is cast on a zinc plate. A special machine, separate from the actual printing press, is used to stamp the Braille impressions in the metal. Each page of the manuscript has its own zinc master. The zinc plate is bowed in the middle. It fits onto a rotating barrel on the printing press.
Printing
4 After the zinc plates are fitted onto the press, a worker running the press feeds paper into the machine. The press is not significantly different from a conventional printing press, except that the letters are embossed. Letters in Braille are formed by raised dots arranged in specific places in a six-position matrix. The matrix consists of two vertical lines of three points each. Various combinations of raised dots in the matrix stand for each letter in the Roman alphabet.
There is no ink. The paper is pressed against the zinc master as the barrel rotates, and the impressions of the raised dots are transferred to the paper. Then the sheet of paper is ejected.
Collating and assembling
5 The pages of a Braille publication must be collated by hand. Though this is extremely labor intensive, mechanical collators are not adequate for Braille books. Because a mechanical collator would hold and handle stacks of pages, it tends to MASH the dots, thus destroying the text. Instead the pages are carefully placed in order by hand. Then the book can be finished in a number of ways. Some books are bound in a three-ring binder, and for these, the pages need to be punched. Other publications are saddle-stitched and bound in a conventional hard-back book format. Finished books can then be boxed and shipped to customers or to a warehouse for distribution.
