Given the need for ADA compliant signs to feature raised characters and Class II Braille, the first consideration for selecting ADA signage is how these two requirements be met?

Essentially, there are two commonly used techniques for making Braille signs…The first and oldest is through the use of Photo-polymer material. The second features a process known as Rasterized Braille.

Photo-polymer signs are produced from a light sensitive and water soluble material. This product is very common and often less costly than products manufactured from other materials. The raised characters and Braille are the products of a washing process that removes a layer of surface material and “reveals” the copy and Braille that remains. The two different surfaces of the same sign can then be painted or silk screened to deliver a final product.

Photo-polymer signs can be specially manufactured for outdoor or high humidity use but are typically recommended for controlled interior environments.

Rasterized Braille production is a newer, more flexible means of delivering ADA compliance features but has a wide variety of advantages over photo-polymer. Among those is:

• Superior performance in high humidity and outdoor use
• Superior visibility within the “clear” lense product line
• Superior flexibility when used with curved presentation
    frames (such as our Vista line)
• Much broader options in terms of possible substrates,
    background materials and color combinations

Rasterized Braille can be used on substrates ranging from polycarbonates to Formica® to Corian® to Chemetal® to Aluminum.