Transcription FAQS

Yes! Contact our office for pricing.  

The International Council on English Braille (ICEB) developed the rules for Unified English Braille (UEB) and IPA braille. UNESCO, in conjunction with ICEB, Perkins, and the National Library Service for the Blind, developed the World Braille Usage which determines the foreign language codes. The Nemeth code, developed by Abraham Nemeth in 1952, and the Braille Music Code are currently managed by the Braille Authority of North America (BANA). BANA also developed the formats used for braille transcription.  

We have transcribers proficient in Unified English Braille (UEB), UEB Technical, Nemeth, IPA, and several foreign languages. We can also produce English Braille, American Edition (EBAE, old code) transcriptions upon request.  

Unfortunately, we do not have a music transcriber on staff. The Library of Congress maintains a list of certified music transcribers. The list can be accessed here. 

Certified transcribers have completed a thorough lesson plan and testing to ensure knowledge of the braille code in the area of certification. Using a certified transcriber helps to ensure the best quality and most accurate transcriptions for the BVI person.  

Yes. We have transcribers certified in UEB and Nemeth. Our transcribers also attend seminars and webinars regularly to make sure we are staying up to date on the latest codes and changes. 

Print braille is produced on an embosser. An embosser produces raised braille dots instead of print. Braille can be produced on paper or clear plastic sheets known as Embossables. 

Since braille is a fixed-width font, a braille book cannot have the font size adjusted to make the book smaller.  

Standard braille paper is 11" by 11.5". Other sizes, including 8.5" by 11" paper, are available. PBP offers transcriptions on standard braille paper and 8.5" by 11" paper. 

Standard braille on standard braille paper is 40 cells per line with 25 lines per page. Jumbo Braille fits about 33 cells per line with 22 lines per page.  

Yes! Please request Jumbo Braille at the time of the estimate.  

Yes! For most transcriptions, we emboss interpoint (double-sided). However, for certain transcriptions such as younger grades or Nemeth, we emboss single-sided. Please note that, at this time, we cannot do interpoint braille on 8.5" by 11" paper.  

Yes! Please request double-spaced braille at the time of the estimate. 

Yes! Please be sure to communicate the special requirements at the time of the estimate. 

That depends on many factors, most importantly the size of the print font. A larger print book, for example a first-grade reader done in contracted braille, may only be 1-2 braille pages per print page. A three-column index in a high school textbook may be as many as 12-15 braille pages per print page. Uncontracted braille and foreign languages also add braille pages. But, for a general rule of thumb, figure 3-4 braille pages per print page and add one braille page for every drawing. Requesting an estimate will give a closer braille page count. 

You can access our rates for document and textbook transcription here.  

Documents generally have a faster turnaround time than textbooks. Documents are also generally transcribed onto 8.5" by 11" paper as compared to the 11" by 11.5" paper for textbooks. Note, however, that we may recommend document transcription onto 11" by 11.5" paper, depending on the original document.  

For these transcriptions, the large print version is printed on 8.5" by 11" paper. The corresponding braille is embossed on an Embossable sheet and adhered to the paper with the large print. The large print text is visible through the Embossable sheet. 

Our regular covers are a heavier cover stock with the print cover on the front, along with volume information (volume number, braille page counts, print page numbers, etc.). This is then covered with a clear Embossable sheet that has the book title and other information in braille. Our premium covers are a semi-transparent plastic. The first sheet under cover has the transcription information (logo or cover, braille page counts, print page numbers, etc.) and is visible through the cover. Premium covers are only available for 8.5" by 11" transcriptions. Standard covers are available for both paper sizes. 

Depends on the print material and the quantities needed. Standard turnaround time for a document is 5-7 days, but additional time could be needed if the document is long or needs multiple copies. Turnaround time for a textbook depends on the complexity of the print. A novel can be completed in 6-8 weeks, but a math or science book can take 6-8 months. In cases where the transcriptions take an extended amount of time, we do ship 2-3 volumes as they are completed to ensure that the student has the materials. Projected turnaround times are included with estimates.

We have several methods for reproducing charts and drawings. Some can be reproduced directly into the braille transcription. Some can be changed to a different format, for example a large table can be changed to a list. Some visual illustrations, such as drawings, may be described. Others can be reproduced as a collage (drawn onto braille paper using spur wheels and other medium to create a raised image) and then copied via thermoform. Still others can be reproduced using a computer drawing program which is then copied onto swelltouch paper or embossed. Some others may be able to be omitted if the information is included in the text. Finally, some graphics may be so complex that there is no reproduction method available that would make the material clear to the BVI person. A reproduced graphic is referred to as a tactile. We try to determine the best method for reproduction at the time of estimate.  

Yes! If the tactile is created inside the braille transcription or, in some cases, using a computer drawing program, the tactile can be embossed directly onto braille paper. Collage tactiles are reproduced using Brailon and a thermoform machine. Brailon is a thin plastic sheet which is placed over the original collage drawing. Using the thermoform machine, the plastic is then heated while a fan creates suction. The suction forms the Brailon to the same image as the collage tactile. The Brailon sheet is included with the transcription, while the collage tactile is retained for future transcriptions. Swelltouch paper can also be used to reproduce a tactile. Swelltouch paper is a heat-sensitive medium that can be used to reproduce tactiles with greater detail. Tactiles are printed onto the Swelltouch paper. The paper is then run through a machine called a Tactile Image Enhancer (TIE). The TIE machine uses heat to raise the black ink on the Swelltouch paper and create a tactile image for the BVI person.

We ship new transcriptions via USPS Priority Mail, usually flat rate, and is charged at actual cost. UPS and FedEx shipping are available upon request at actual cost.  

Yes! Please specify the address when requesting the estimate to ensure accurate cost.  

Yes! Please specify the address when requesting the estimate to ensure accurate cost. 

Yes! Please request electronic files only at the time of the estimate. 

In order to get an accurate estimate, we need to see the print text. This text can be electronic or hard copy. If the text is in electronic format, please email the text to info@precisionbrailleplus.com. For a hard copy, please send the text to: Precision Braille Plus, PO Box 1653, Gardnerville, NV 89410. Please include: shipping address, especially if out of the country, and any special requests (uncontracted braille, Jumbo Braille, 8.5" by 11" paper, double-spacing, etc.). All formatting decisions are included on the estimate along with projected turnaround time.  

In order to get an accurate estimate, we need to see the text. When looking at the text, we're judging how much text is on a page, the size of the font, how many tactiles there are, and the method required for reproducing each tactile. All of these factors weigh into the total braille page count and the estimate. It is extremely difficult to account for these factors without the print text.  

Yes, we will return the hard copy of a text when we're done with the transcription. We try to return the book in close to the same condition as we receive it. We do not cut the spine off a book. That being said, occasionally we will have to break a spine to get a good scan.  

At Precision Braille Plus, completing a braille transcription is a multi-step process. The first step is to create an RTF or text file of the document. There are multiple ways to create this file. For PBP, this usually involves using an optical character recognition (OCR) program. Once the RTF or text file is created, the file is checked against the print copy of the book. We are looking for characters that weren't recognized correctly or missing text. The file is also formatted according to the current braille formatting rules. Then the RTF file is imported into the braille transcription program. Once the file is imported, we again look for missing or incorrect text, characters that weren't transcribed into braille correctly, formatting errors, and we make any other necessary additions/corrections. Once the file is ready, we emboss the file and make the covers. We also create any tactiles needed for the volume. Finally, after the tactiles are reproduced, the embossed volume is ready for shipment.  

Yes! You can access PDF listings of our current library (also called reprints) here. You can also purchase the same books in our store (currently in the process of being added). Note that if you are searching by ISBN, remove the dashes from the ISBN number.

Reprints are shipped to anywhere in the United States via USPS Insured Free Matter for the Blind at no additional cost. UPS or FedEx shipping is available at actual cost. We can ship anywhere in the world for an additional cost. Please contact our office for information and pricing.