Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Sighted artist looking for advice on zine inclusivity (self.Blind)
submitted by AtlasHugged97
Hello!
I am an artist whose work focuses on perception, and I recently came to really want to better include blind folks in my art, (alongside getting in touch with blind artists in my area)
I'm currently getting into Zine making, and I'm trying to figure out if there's a practical way to make a decent amount of zines, probably no more than 20-30 that can be inclusive to blind readers.
I'm not exactly sure what should be my main course of action, are there printers who do small batches of braille prints? Etc etc
Should the imagery in the zines be raised off the page, would that even be discernible to a blind reader?
Thank you so much for any advice that can be given.
I am an artist whose work focuses on perception, and I recently came to really want to better include blind folks in my art, (alongside getting in touch with blind artists in my area)
I'm currently getting into Zine making, and I'm trying to figure out if there's a practical way to make a decent amount of zines, probably no more than 20-30 that can be inclusive to blind readers.
I'm not exactly sure what should be my main course of action, are there printers who do small batches of braille prints? Etc etc
Should the imagery in the zines be raised off the page, would that even be discernible to a blind reader?
Thank you so much for any advice that can be given.
FaerilyRowanwind 3 points 2y ago
You could also check and see if any of us who make tactile graphics or who do transcription would want to help.
AtlasHugged97 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Oh I would love to! I'll probably make a separate post soon once I work out some of the details to see if anyone would like to collaborate
FaerilyRowanwind 3 points 2y ago
Also. Making your zines low vision accessible would be good too. Most people who are blind aren’t profoundly blind but have some vision. It just isn’t very functional or not functional for amounts of time
AtlasHugged97 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Yeah I 100% agree, another comment mentioned that as well and I'm really glad you both did as it wasn't something I was originally thinking too hard about. So far I know I'm going to want large fonts, clear contrast, etc, alongside the brail. Is there anything else that would help that I'm missing?
FaerilyRowanwind 3 points 2y ago
Pick a dyslexic friendly font. 😊
snow671 3 points 2y ago
How would you distribute the zines? There is so much accessible literature online. You could focus on an accessible website with good image descriptions in addition to the zines.
AtlasHugged97 [OP] 3 points 2y ago
I was planning on distribution of zines online/in person as I have some friends who distribute them as well. And making a website as well is a great idea! So you'd suggest image descriptions to go with them as a way to make the zine more legible in general?
snow671 3 points 2y ago
Yes. $1
TechnicalPragmatist 2 points 2y ago
I think the e text stuff is probably the best of the best. Suggestions here. More and more the world is turning digital and most of the most accessible ways to connect with people and distribute is through etext. I would make the website accessible, use altext and describe the pictures very well.
For physical copies get them done professionally. As they are probably not just a few words or line it may be exhaustging to type out the entire thing. Buying an embosser is expensive and at that point it may be better to outsource it and then somehow make it up in the cost unless you are really sure in the long term a braille embosser is worth it then you need to look at transcription software and learning how to use it. A lot more training and work then you’re really bargaining for. Professionals also can handle images better.
For physical copies get them done professionally. As they are probably not just a few words or line it may be exhaustging to type out the entire thing. Buying an embosser is expensive and at that point it may be better to outsource it and then somehow make it up in the cost unless you are really sure in the long term a braille embosser is worth it then you need to look at transcription software and learning how to use it. A lot more training and work then you’re really bargaining for. Professionals also can handle images better.
AtlasHugged97 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
This is all good to know! I'm definitely now going to use the website as a tool to help make the images better accessible. For the physical zines I'm actually only planning on having roughly one short sentence on each page of a six page zine, and I'd like to use the opportunity to learn at least braille 1 as another comment suggested.
For the website version of the zine, what would be the best way for someone who is blind to access it from the physical zine? Are urls in braille feasible or is there a better way?
For the website version of the zine, what would be the best way for someone who is blind to access it from the physical zine? Are urls in braille feasible or is there a better way?
TechnicalPragmatist 2 points 2y ago
A QR code could be useful. But the blind person would have to know there is one and maybe where it is. But also just by having a website and sending out e-mails when you tell people about the magazines do it on the internet too and they can come to you as a sort of e-publication as well. Advertise it on here and other blind groups and have other word of mouth sources.
And interesting then what’s the point of the little bits of braille if the majority of the zine isn’t accessible? I think online is better because it would make the entire thing accessible.
If you need help with online accessibility let me know.
And interesting then what’s the point of the little bits of braille if the majority of the zine isn’t accessible? I think online is better because it would make the entire thing accessible.
If you need help with online accessibility let me know.
AtlasHugged97 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
There's actually going to only be a line of text on each page for sighted readers too, the zine is apart of a full artwork that the website would help link to. I was also considering raising the artwork (which will take up a majority of the pages).
The zine itself isn't meant to be an informative thing or a comic, I guess the best way to describe it would be conceptual? With a priority towards it being accessible to non sighted people.
I'm very sorry if I'm not explaining it well, it's sort of uncharted territory for me
The zine itself isn't meant to be an informative thing or a comic, I guess the best way to describe it would be conceptual? With a priority towards it being accessible to non sighted people.
I'm very sorry if I'm not explaining it well, it's sort of uncharted territory for me
TechnicalPragmatist 2 points 2y ago
Oh in that case a website probably isn’t a good idea since most of it is vicsual. You can describe it but it’s not the same as in seeing it I thought the main of it would be textual. I would say hand it over to a professional to do they’d probably emboss the pictures professionally. It would be hard to do many copies yourself and by hand, a few copies sure, but more then that it would take a lot of time like many art pieces you can spend a lot of time crafting the pictureds try to make it tactile. It could be either puffed up or most of them would just emboss them. And when they do that they can also reproduce the phrase.
letspaintthesky 2 points 2y ago
If you bought a braille label maker (if available near you) or learned grade 1 braille (lassuming Unified English Braille like at this link, $1 for free, no catch 22 about it) you could even buy a slate and stylus and braille some copies yourself (less than $30 for the slate and stylus option) if money is a concern.
Think of high contrast text/background colors, a clear, legible font, and larger print.
As for imagery, maybe other folks have opinions there.
Think of high contrast text/background colors, a clear, legible font, and larger print.
As for imagery, maybe other folks have opinions there.
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