Tactile Maps: New Materials and Improved Designs

This article evaluates the relative strengths of different ways to make tactile maps, including new photopolymers (plastics that harden with exposure to light) and computer-assisted design (CAD). Photopolymers yield crisp and precise images and produce excellent masters for vacuum forming maps. CAD allows for quick design and proofreading and the easy modification of images and text. High-quality tactile maps can be easily produced and refined by almost anyone using this technology.