Generator
Braille generator for labels, signs and 3D printing
Type a name or a short label and get braille dots at their real size: an SVG in millimetres, a PNG, or an STL you can 3D print with raised dots. For braille you can copy and paste as text, use the braille translator.
The size used for braille books and most embossers, and the basis of the European standard.
What you get
- SVG — vector drawing in real millimetres, one circle per dot. For Illustrator, Inkscape, laser cutters and vinyl plotters.
- PNG — the same drawing as an image at 300 dpi, for documents, slides and mock-ups.
- STL — a plate 2 mm thick with domed dots on top, ready for a 3D printer or a CNC router.
The sizes braille has to keep
Braille is only readable by touch if the dots are the size fingers expect. Two specifications cover almost everything:
| Specification | Dot | Height | Dot spacing | Cell spacing | Line spacing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marburg Medium | 1.5 mm | 0.5 mm | 2.5 mm | 6 mm | 10 mm |
| ADA signage (US) | 1.5 mm | 0.64 mm | 2.4 mm | 6.2 mm | 10 mm |
The dots here are drawn as spherical caps rather than cones, because that is the shape a fingertip reads comfortably — and the shape an embosser makes.
Printing a label that can actually be read
- Print the plate flat, dots facing up, with a layer height of 0.1 mm or finer.
- Use a rigid material. Flexible filament lets the dots squash under a finger.
- Do not scale the model. Braille dots are only readable at the size they are drawn.
- Keep labels short — one or two words on a line reads better than a sentence.
- For signs in public buildings, check the rules that apply where you are; in the United States that is the ADA standard, in Europe the national braille authority.
Uses people put this to
Labels for jars, files and light switches; door and room signs; name badges; classroom material; tactile additions to board games; gifts and cards; prototypes for products that need braille on the packaging. If you need the dots inside a document or a message instead, the translator gives Unicode braille you can paste anywhere, and the alphabet chart shows what each cell means.
Frequently asked questions
What sizes are the dots?
Marburg Medium — the size used for braille books and embossers — has dots 1.5 mm across and 0.5 mm high, 2.5 mm between dots in a cell, 6 mm between cells and 10 mm between lines. The ADA setting used for signs in the United States keeps the same dot width but makes the dots taller and the cells slightly wider.
Can I 3D print the STL file straight away?
Yes. The file is a plate 2 mm thick with the dots raised on top, in millimetres, so any slicer will load it at the right size. Print it flat on the bed with a small layer height — 0.1 mm or finer — so the domes stay smooth enough to read by touch.
Is the SVG ready for a laser cutter or a vinyl plotter?
The SVG is drawn in real millimetres with each dot as a circle, so it opens at the right size in Illustrator, Inkscape and cutter software. For engraving, remember that a cut circle is flat: braille must be raised to be readable by touch.
Can I write my name in braille with this?
Yes — type it in and download the image. Names are spelled letter by letter, so choose Grade 1 unless you know the reader expects contracted braille.
Will a blind person be able to read what I make?
Only if the dots are raised, rounded and spaced to the standard, and the material is firm. A printed or engraved image is for sighted people; a 3D print or an embossed plate can be read by touch. For a sign that must meet the law, have it made by a supplier who certifies the dot geometry.
Which languages can I generate?
All of the ones the translator supports: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Polish and Czech. The language matters because accented letters and contractions differ.