Instructional Article: Tactile Map

Table of Contents

Introduction

Through a colleague a question arrived at our makerspace. A blind client wants to revisit the area where she grew up in the near future. We’ll refer to this person as the user.

To help her understand the physical changes in the area during conversations with locals, she wants a tactile version of a hand drawn map as an aid. The map is not for navigation purposes.

A laminated map with tactile markings. The upper right corner is cut off. This enables the user to understand how to hold the map in the correct direction.
The end result of the project, a laminated map

Supplies

  • Scissors
  • Laminating machine
  • A4 laminating sheets
  • Polyvinylacetate based glue, also known as PVA based glue. We have good results with wood glue. This is a different consistency than crafting glue.
  • If colouring the glue is relevant any of the following three: Acrylic paint and an empty squeeze bottle, or a food colorant and an empty squeeze bottle, or a permanent marker.

Making the laminated map

This video demonstrates how to make the laminated map. A text version is available below.

  • The first step is to have a conversation about what makes the final product suitable for the user. This is the list of demands. In our case it was the following:
    1. All visual information of the hand drawn map remains.
    2. Tactile elements: points A B C D and the four lines connecting them, roads and rivers.
    3. A clear differentiation between roads and rivers
    4. The map is water resistant
    5. A marking to indicate the correct map orientation
    6. Low cost
    7. A4 size

  • Make a copy of the original map
  • Agree with the user which corner should indicate that they are holding the map correctly. Make a 45 degree cut on this corner.
Cutting a 45 degree cut on the top right corner.
Cutting a corner of the map
  • Laminate the map
The laminated map is being fed into the laminating machine
Laminating the map
  • Next to the previously made 45 degree cut, make a new cut. Pay attention that you don’t cut too close to the paper, because then the lamination might come loose. Insert photograph 4
  • Remove any sharp edges. Insert photograph 5
  • Contrasting glue preparation:

We used Polyvinylacetate glue, also known as PVA glue or wood glue. Do note that once dry it becomes transparent.

If a contrasting glue is an advantage for your user because they still use their remaining vision, or for other people that will look at the map, then we can suggest three easy options.

Make sure that the chosen colour and the paper are sufficiently contrasting for the user.

  • Option 1: Add acrylic paint to the glue. We advise that you maximally use the same amount of paint as glue. Shake or stir until all of the glue is coloured.
A tube of red acrylic paint is shown next to an open bottle of PVA glue.
Colouring the glue

After mixing, the white of the glue will make the colour seem lighter. However, after drying it will look more like the paint.

In the centre the transparent tube containing PVA glue mixed with red acrylic paint is shown. The upper left corners shows dry uncoloured glue, the upper right corner dry, red coloured glue. Compared to the colour of the mixture in the bottle, the dried
The tube of PVA glue mixed with acrylic paint
  • Option 2: Once the glue is dry, use a permanent marker to colour the glue. Make sure that the colour of the permanent marker and the paper are sufficiently contrasting. insert photo 8 of using a marker onto the laminated map
  • Option 3: Use food colorant. Mix a couple of drops in the glue. Shake or stir until all of the glue is coloured.
Three bottles of food colorant inside of their packaging. The colors are blue, yellow and red.
Bottles with food colorant

Now that you’ve applied the glue you might notice that it shrank after drying. That’s normal. Test with the user if the glue height is still OK. If the glue is too flat, apply another layer or use a different PVA-based glue. Adding flour to the mixture will works also. The quantity is based on the amount and type of glue. Start by adding a little amount and stirring.

  • Agree with the user how to represent the tactile differences (dots, dashes,…). Do this on the backside of the laminated map. Let the user try and decide once the glue is dry.
  • Drying the glue

Glue dries in two steps. First of all the outer surface becomes dry. At this point non-coloured glue became transparent, and you can gently touch it.

If you want to speed up the process of the glue becoming touchable:

  1. Use a hairdryer, half a meter away from the surface. Make sure that the map doesn’t fly away.
  2. Put the map on top of a radiator.

Secondly, the inside becomes dry. The glue is hard. Depending on the quantity of glue it takes at least 24 hours. Wait for this amount of time before storing the map, for example in a backpack.

Close up image of dried red glue, spread in dotted and dashed lines.
Dried glue

Testing with the user

Do note that previous tests with the user were made before we reached the shown result. This is documented in the following section Background information.

The user confirmed that her list of demands, see the previous step 1,  was fulfilled. Meaning that this prototype is the aid which she was looking for.

Knowledge transfer

Before leaving the map with the user we explained the creation process. We’ve also shared this in a digital document. In case that damage occurs she is able to have it reproduced.

Extra

Curious about more information on using PVA glue? TactileImages.org created a webinar on using PVA glue to make drawings tactile.


After figuring out the best shape of the hand made map, it’s a good idea to make it more durable. Here are four alternatives to do so. Keep in mind that maps used for navigation purposes are often no longer used after a blind person learned a route.

  • One of the methods is to replicate the map in 3D designing software, and 3D printing the map.
  • A second method would be to laser cut the map in material of the same thickness as the hand made map.
  • A third option can be the use of corrugated polypropylene sheets, which are comparable to cardboard, but waterproof.
  • Tactile map generating platforms such as touch-mapper.org and eu are also available.

Critical thinking is essential: does the user want to learn a route, or do they want to know how their environment is built? For tactile maps aimed at learning a route, the replication of surroundings such as buildings is not an advantage for each user. Also, it’s not guaranteed that the output of the map making software fulfils the requirements of the user.

Background information

First test

Testing pre-made prototypes

Before visiting the user we’ve received a copy of the map that she wants to have made tactile.

Hand draw map with indications of rivers, roads and villages.
Original map

We often questions to make tactile maps. There were three new methods waiting to be tried out with a user, so we took advantage of the situation and made three prototypes. Making prototypes before having the list of demands of the user is something which we normally don’t do, because it can be a waste of time.

Before sharing the prototypes we informed the user that we need her honest opinion on positive and negative aspects.

10 Tactile map 1, cardboard

A4 print of the map on paper, laid on top of cardboard. The cardboard is cut with the roads and rivers as a division.
Tactile map 1, cardboard
A4 print of the map on paper. Multiple layers of paper are laid on top of each other. The paper is cut with the roads and rivers as a division.
Tactile map 2, paper

Both tactile map 1 and tactile map 2 have the same feedback:

  • Positive that it’s rigid, which is an advantage in windy situations. One of the corners is cut-off, this indicates in which direction to hold the map.
  • Negative:
  • The cut-out marking for the river is difficult to feel. The user prefers a raised surface.
  • The various height differences have a negative impact on the user’s overview of the map

With this prototype we applied tactile markings directly onto a printed version of the map. This was evaluated as positive because it’s quick to make and cheap. The user experience this as the best tactile experience compared to the other two maps.

The user’s list of demands

During the first visit the user’s list of demands were clarified:

  1. All visual information needs to remain. This helps locals during the conversation with our user.
  2. Tactile elements: points A B C D and the four lines connecting them, roads and rivers.
  3. Tactile markings on one height level
  4. A clear differentiation between roads and rivers
  5. The map has to be water resistant
  6. A marking in the corners to indicate the correct map orientation
  7. A4 size is preferred rather than A3
  8. If larger than A4, has to be foldable
  9. Low cost, no specific amount mentioned
  10. 25 Words which have to be present in braille are specified.

The user’s past experiences with tactile maps

During the first conversation we asked the user about past positive and negative experiences with tactile maps.

This is a cardboard map of her neighbourhood made by one of our colleagues. It was used during the mobility training.

The main road and sideroads are easy to distinguish: The main road is indicated in foam, and sideroads with glue. For her the coloured glue has no advantage. A small forest is marked with fabric. The school where her kids go to has the entrance marked with two push pins. The material isn’t waterproof, but the tactile elements are easy to differentiate.

The swell paper method is used to produce the map
Tactile map 4 swell paper

The user also proposed her question to a teacher in her school, who produced a map with swell paper. Unfortunately all of the ink has raised. It’s difficult to navigate because the lines feel the same.

Simplified representation of the area around the school. An embossed dotted line runs from a starting point to an end point. At the end point the school's name is printed in braille. In the upper right corner there is a QR code and a NFC chip.

The school where goes to has a tactile map of the city. For her there is a clear difference between the dots and dashes. The technique is 2,5D flatbed printing. The braille is of good quality and the material is waterproof. Unfortunately the creation of this map requires software knowledge, and would cost more than what the user is willing to pay.”

Second test

This time we return to test a couple of prototypes based on the user’s list of demands. It’s important that the user is made aware of the fact that together we are looking for solutions which meet all of the demands. However, at this point it is normal that not a single prototype meets all of the demands.

To prevent disappointment we make clear to the user which part of the demands we are testing. In this case:

  • The location of braille
  • The size of the map
  • The differentiation between roads and rivers

A selection of positive and negative experiences: The rivers are distinguishable and the braille markings are placed OK. Unfortunately the A3 size makes it difficult for the user to build a mental map.

A laminated A4 map with roads and rivers marked with glue. Braille is applied.
Tactile map 6 A3 format braille and glue

A selection of positive and negative experiences: The user likes the A4 size. The glue marking is cheap and effective. Unfortunately the braille markings are very close to each other. They make it challenging to build a mental image of the map.

A selection of positive and negative experiences: Some parts of the whitespace around the image of the map have been removed and printed on A4 paper. This causes enlargement of the map compared to tactile map 6. Unfortunately this makes it challenging to build a mental image of the map.

The lamination is a cheap and effective method to have a waterproof map. Depending on how you hold it it’s flexible or rigid. However, just like with the tactile map 7, the A3 size is too large.

Change of the list of demands

At the end of the second visit the user realized that the addition of braille makes it challenging to build a mental image of the map. The main importance is that she gets an idea of the geography. We tested a tactile map without braille, and it was clear that the user remembers all of the names. A4 format is sufficient.

The instruction on how to make this map are shared above.

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