ATK & Co., Inc., Inc. - Braille Tools - Sighted Electronics

The Index 4X4 PRO automatically produces Braille magazines, books, and newspapers, in a saddle stitch format. This makes even low volume editions cost effective. The 4 X4 PRO is the perfect tool for producing school books, marketing material, menus and public information.

The Index 4X4 PRO is a production Braille Embosser for magazines in saddle stitch binding format. Binding of the Braille material is reduced to folding and stapling. When a file is transmitted to the 4X4 PRO it is processed in the following manner.

The 4X4 PRO receives the translated Braille text from the computer and stores it in the memory. Maximum 200 pages of Braille text.
The text is processed into magazine format. For example, first sheet printed for a forty page document will consist of page numbers 1, 2, 39, 40, then 3, 4, 37 and 38, etc.
The 4X4 PRO automatically embosses a pre-folding line in the center of each page to make the folding process easier. The pages will be printed in correct order for stapling and folding.
Staple and fold the magazine. The Braille magazine is finished!

Magazine or saddle stitch binding format Saddle Stitch is a term for staple or “stitch” binding used by newspapers and magazines. It used to be only for material printed or embossed on big plate machines. This format is easy to read, lasts a long time and is inexpensive. The past problems related to the staple stitch system was that is could only be used by the big plate machines. This made stitch bindings advantages impractical and too costly for small Braille editions.

The Index 4X4 PRO performs all the plate production processes that was tedious and time consuming. The document is processed in the same way that any document sent to a Braille Embosser is processed, with or without the use of a Braille translation program. If you use literally Braille or Computer Braille, the built-in Braille translation tables and formatting functions of 4X4 PRO produce high quality Braille direct from a file in DOS or Windows (Using the Index Windows Driver).

In case you prefer Grade 2 (contracted Braille) you can produce the magazine using Braille translation software. For example, Duxbury Braille Translator and MegaDots for DOS, on the Braille Tools Menu.

After the 4X4 PRO receives a complete file, the number of pages will be calculated and formatted automatically. After the embossing process, the material is stacked in correct order for final stapling and hand folding.

The Everest is the only high speed (340 PPH) Braille printer with the ability to work with normal cut sheet paper (80-180 gsm) and produce a Braille document ready for binding or mailing. With the competitive price, high speed, high quality and ease of use the Everest is the best choice for homes, schools, the work place, or braille production centres that prefer a single sheet printing system. The Everest is controlled by an ink and braille labeled front panel, combined with the speech feedback, it is easy to install and operate for blind and sighted users alike.

For single sheet cut paper
Using single sheet cut paper is an easy and effective system for Braille production. With the Everest the printed documents are ready for binding immediately after printing. Everest can be used in an efficient way with any paper similar to that used in other single sheet feeding systems. There is no need for hand separation, special cutting equipment for the paper, or even any special paper thus making it a useful alternative to continuous paper systems. Everest dot quality is one of the best on the market. It has equally formed dots that will last for a long time even if thin “copy paper” is used, and the design reduces the risk of holes or cracked dots. A cracked dot will have a limited life time. Using thinner paper is an important step in reducing costs and saving the global environment.

The noise level of Everest is lower than that of most Braille printers on the market. Using Everest together with the optional Everest Acoustic Hood reduces the noise to a level below what is normally is acceptable in offices.

Speech Guided User Interface
Blind and sighted users are guided equally by speech feedback, together with the ink and Braille labeled front panel. The speech is available in a number of languages.