How can I Illistrate my Tarot Cards in Braille?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 11 Nov 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

vhrsn	11 Nov 2004
Does any of you know how I can illistrate each of my tarot cards in my Goddess tarot deck? I need to be able to feel what the outline looks like for me. If you have any suggestions I would appriciate them because I'm blind.

Lee	11 Nov 2004
Hi vhrsn, welcome to Aeclectic! I don't know if this helps at all, but there is a braille version of the Rider-Waite deck. There's information about it at the Tarot Garden website, if you go to The Tarot Garden and search for "braille," it will come up. Unfortunately it seems to be unavailable at present. -- Lee

April	11 Nov 2004
I did a google search and found the braille tarot for sale at maxiaids.com As for your Goddess Tarot... I hope I can explain it right. Take a pin and poke through the back of the card along the outlines of people and objects of the picture. In the end you will have a line of raised dots in the shape of the picture that will still keep the card intact. It's probably easier to go through the front but I don't know if the effect will be the same. Let me know if this didn't make sense and I'll try again. Peace, April

ambermoon	11 Nov 2004
There are some dimensional clear paint products that produce a softly raised line. Dimension Magic from Plaid Industries is one that comes to mind. Diamond Glaze from JudiKins is another. That's all I can think of at the moment. If it works out, it would be good for in person readings, also, because I don't think the oulines would be distracting to a sighted querant The Goddess Tarot is a wonderful deck, one of my favorites.

April	11 Nov 2004
Oh, go with ambermoon's idea. That's much easier than mine. :) Peace, April

Vilyariel	12 Nov 2004
i know of a really slow way to replicate braille... take your card, turn it upside down, lay it on some paper towels or something sturdy that will cushion the card and stop it slipping, and lay over a piece of paper to protect the card. using a ballpoint pen, press firmly and it should create a raised indent. you might need to practise a bit to get it right... i havent tried it on cards, just somthing i was messing around with during school

Scion	12 Nov 2004
Hey vhrsn, Don't know if this will be helpful or not, but I'll throw this out. I undertook a similar project with sighted and unsighted children with illustrations of stories. We found that using texture to differentiate between lines/areas of the image wound up being the most useful for immediate recognition by hand AND eye. Thing is, what we did almost wound up being more collage-based, but 2 sets of kids did something cool with different sands and spray-adhesive. Even just allowing for rough and smooth areas, they produced something that approximated a stark woodcut texturally and visually, that you could see with your fingers as quickly/easily as with your eyes. Maybe use a combination of "paintpen" to give you raised text/symbols. Then different grades of sand/fiber to distinguish between colors. In fact, Ralph Lauren produces a series of housepaints that produce different textures right out of the can: ridges, suede, grit... They even have sample paintchips/cards of all of the differing textures. Might be worth investigating... Texturing might slow down the shuffle process, but you'd have something that would be immediately "readable" that would lend itself to reading for seeing and unseeing alike.

raeanne	12 Nov 2004
Hi Vhrsh, I would suggest you contact your state Department of the Blind. They can be a wonderful resource. Personally, I would not poke holes in your cards. As others have stated, there are many products that will add texture to your cards. Check with your state Department of the Blind and I'm sure they will be able to give you the best suggestion.

VGimlet	12 Nov 2004
Similar to the paints, you might also want to try clear ink and clear embossing powder - available from the more artistic rubber stamp stores or suppliers. You apply the ink, pour the powder over it while it's wet, shake off the excess, and then heat what's left with a hairdryer or a lightbub, and it leaves a fairly smooth finish when it cools.

The How can I Illistrate my Tarot Cards in Braille? thread was originally posted on 11 Nov 2004 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.