Fwd: [Tech-VI] From Veroniiiica: FREE BRAILLE ART AND TACTILE IMAGE LIBRARIES: WORLD BRAILLE DAY
Anne Ward
From: David Goldfield via groups.io <david.goldfield=outlo...@groups.io>
Date: Wed, Jan 7, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Subject: [Tech-VI] From Veroniiiica: FREE BRAILLE ART AND TACTILE IMAGE LIBRARIES: WORLD BRAILLE DAY
To: Tech-VI Announcement List <tec...@groups.io>
Free Braille Art and Tactile Image Libraries: World Braille Day
As part of a semester-long school project for one of my graduate classes, I researched several free braille art and tactile image libraries that could be used for educational activities relating to science, agriculture, ecology, and several other topics. Even though I don’t personally use braille due to neuropathy in my hands, I can often access some components of tactile graphics and braille art, examining high-contrast lines and other details through touch. Here is a short list of free braille art and tactile image libraries that provide resources on accessible images for blind and low vision audiences, in honor of World Braille Day. I’ve also included links to graphics and other resources I used specifically for this school project when possible.
What are tactile graphics?
Tactile graphics are accessible images that feature raised surfaces and details so that they can be explored by touch. There are several different methods for creating tactile graphics, ranging from creating collage-style images with craft materials to using professional grade embossing tools, and many tactile graphics incorporate braille in some capacity as well. Some tactile graphics are composed entirely of braille in the form of braille drawings or image generators, while other tactile graphics may include braille labels for text components.
Related links
- How To Create Tactile Images With Everyday Objects
- No-Tech Solutions For Drawing Graphs With Low Vision And Dysgraphia
- How To Modify Accessible Anatomy Graphics For Low Vision
- Decorating Easter Eggs With Low Vision
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Low Vision
Why use braille for images?
Braille images provide a more authentic way for readers to form mental models and examine details of an image, instead of using audio-based or text-based descriptions that leave the reader imagining what an item might look like. To give a real-life example, one of my friends had no idea that the Eastern Shore of Virginia existed until they examined a tactile graphic showing the outline of the state, which showed the Eastern Shore detached from the mainland of Virginia. Up until that point, they had assumed the Eastern Shore was another name for Norfolk or Virginia Beach, which are located on the mainland, and not part of the Delmarva peninsula where the Eastern Shore is actually located.
An even better story about the benefits of tactile images can be found on the Paths to Technology microsite from Perkins School for the Blind, which has a great story about a duck!
Related links
- Concept Development Through Tactile Graphics: Duck Example
- How To Create Accessible Map Charts For Low Vision
- Creating Audio Narrated Images For Low Vision
- High Contrast and Low Vision
APH Tactile Graphics Image Library
American Printinghouse for the Blind has several amazing resources for blind and low vision learners, including the APH Tactile Graphics Image Library. After creating a free account, users can explore and download free tactile image templates across a variety of subject areas, including math, science, social studies, health, independent living, and so much more. Users can also request graphics through the feedback page or submit graphic templates of their own for other users.
For my school project, I used a few different graphics including TGIL 1556 (parts of a flower), TGIL 449 (dicot and monocot seed diagrams), TGIL 240 (deer footprint), and a few others. Instructions for printing and embossing graphics are posted on the website.
Related links
- Tactile Graphics Image Library portal
- The Tactile Graphics Image Library: Helping Students Succeed | American Printing House
Six Dots Art
Six Dots Art is a free website created by Lena, a retired teacher who shares several templates and instructions for drawing braille pictures. There are several text-based tutorials available, as well as high contrast images that can serve as a reference when creating images.
When creating additional resources for the project, I added links to a few different image collections, including On The Farm, Horses, and In The Backyard. These would be perfect for braille readers planning a field trip to the petting zoo!
Related links
Paths to Literacy and Perkins School for the Blind braille graphics
Paths to Literacy is a free website maintained by Perkins School for the Blind and Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired that has several free resources for braille drawing, braille art, and tactile graphics. Braille art is often promoted as a stepping stone to using tactile graphics for older students, and Paths to Literacy has a lot of fun ideas for drawings. I also found several resources on Paths to Technology, another free website maintained by Perkins where I am a frequent contributor.
I didn’t mention any braille art from Paths to Literacy for the final draft of the school project, though they were an invaluable resource for learning more about braille art and tactile graphics in general. However, I did use the ostrich template in an early draft to illustrate the difference between ostriches and emus.
Related links
- Learning Resources – Paths to Literacy (filter by Braille Drawing and Tactile Graphics)
- Resource center – Perkins School for the Blind (filter by Braille and Tactile Graphics)
- Ostrich Braille Art Design – Paths to Literacy
- Tactile graphics library – Perkins School for the Blind
RNIB Bookshare accessible images
Also known as the Royal National Institute of Blind People, RNIB is a UK-based organization that has a repository of thousands of accessible images and tactile image templates available for instant download. To access the library, users will need to be a member of the RNIB Bookshare program, which is free for educators and schools in the United Kingdom. Users from outside of this service area can subscribe to an annual membership for £150 (which is about $200 USD at time of publication).
While this project focused on US-based resources, this would be a great option for a similar project implementation across the pond!
Related links
Braille ASCII art generator
Braille ASCII art generator is a free tool for generating braille art from any image file using a simple GitHub program. While I haven’t tested this with photos, it can be used to create simple art using braille “dots” instead of traditional pixels. Another option for creating accessible images is to include alt text and/or image descriptions when posting online, which can be read by a screen reader and/or transcribed on a braille display so that users can get information about an image.
I used a braille ASCII art generator for creating simple graphics of animal tracks, as well as example mockups for a presentation.
Related links
- Braille ASCII Art (lachlanarthur.github.io)
- How To Write Video Descriptions For Animal Videos On Social Media
- How To Make ASCII/Emoji Memes Accessible For Visual Impairment
BTactile
BTactile offers thousands of free tactile images and braille art options that can be filtered by desired graphic type, and several templates can also be edited within the web browser. There are also options for exploring 3D-printed tactile graphics that include various types of filament, as well as graphics that can be used in high school and college classes.
I shared the digestive system of the hen as an example of a tactile graphic that could be used for a science activity, though the original template uses French text labels— something the France native Louis Braille would have enjoyed!
Related links
Imageshare accessible graphics library
Imageshare is a STEM library of accessible educational resources from the parent company of Bookshare. While this website doesn’t exclusively feature tactile graphics, users can search for a variety of different types of content, including videos from the Described and Captioned Media Program, simple diagrams, and tactile graphics templates from several different sources. Imageshare does not require an account, but some of the resources linked on their website require free accounts to access.
I didn’t use any tactile graphics or braille art from Imageshare for this school project, but I discovered it during the research process and wanted to add it to the list. Update: As of 2025, Imageshare appears to no longer be available, but I have linked resources from the DIAGRAM Center that maintains Imageshare below.
Related links
- DIAGRAM Center | Tactile Graphics
- How I Find Research Sources In Accessible Formats
- DCMP: Free Audio Described Videos For Classrooms
- How To Modify Accessible Anatomy Graphics For Low Vision
Other resources for free braille art and tactile image libraries for World Braille Day
- This website is in German, but has several resources for braille art: Projekt – Braillebilder – einfach machbar e. V. I found it on another small website that is in English, Brailleart – A Guide to Braille Drawings
- Want to practice with creating braille art? Here is a guide from the Mountbatten Brailler website: TextDoc (mountbattenbrailler.com). I also came across another book that covers drawing with the Perkins brailler— Drawing With Your Perkins Brailler by Kim Charlson
- There’s more to accessible images than just braille art and tactile graphics! Learn more about creating accessible images in my posts How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the Visually Impaired and How To Create Accessible Diagrams For Low Vision
Published January 4, 2024. Updated January 2026
Reference
Lewis, Veronica. (2024). Free Braille Art and Tactile Image Libraries: World Braille Day. Veroniiiica. https://veroniiiica.com/free-braille-art-tactile-images/ (Accessed on January 7, 2026)
Filed Under: Blind and Nonvisual Access, Arts and Music, Assistive Technology, Compensatory Skills, Design, Education, Expanded Core Curriculum, Low Vision, Media Accessibility, Science and Math, Sensory Efficiency, Websites and Apps
Tags: accessible text, art, biology, blind, braille, chemistry, compensatory skills, ecc, edat 610, environmental science, free, graphs and charts, low vision, sensory efficiency
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