What is a PIAF (Pictures in a Flash) "baker"?
The PIAF printer produces high-quality tactile graphics using a capsule of heat-sensitive paper. Tactile graphics are ideal for blind and partially sighted people.
How does the PIAF toaster work?
A controlled heat source causes changes in any black lines, letters or shapes that are drawn, printed or copied on special paper in such a way that the lines "swell" or rise. The result is a tactile graphic display.
Even better results are achieved with special, tangible magic paper. Such paper can be passed through the PIAF oven several times, without jeopardizing the quality of already raised lines and character outlines on the paper. These capabilities allow blind and partially sighted people to produce and manipulate tactile images in an interactive and dynamic way.
What can everything be used for?
- Education - in early education, the PIAF baker can help visually impaired children to become familiar with basic shapes and concepts, with the concept of drawing and two-dimensional representation of three-dimensional objects, teach them what handwriting and signature are; in higher grades, PIAF can be used to access graphical information in almost all areas, especially in mathematics and natural sciences.
- Orientation and Movement – ​​The PIAF baker can produce high-quality maps of the local area for orientation and movement training, or it can be used to create a tactile map of a campus or building for students and staff.
- At the workplace - with the help of the PIAF toaster, blind and partially sighted people will more easily understand the information presented on the computer screen, understand the organizational structure of work and sales. One or two tactile diagrams contain several thousand words.
- In one's own home - PIAF offers a multitude of possibilities in one's own home, from making the chess board more accessible to giving one the ability to explore the world map.
Features of PIAF paper:
- perfect texture
- pleasant to the touch
- high resolution, clean and sharp lines
- keeps existing raised lines intact even after several passes through the oven
- reacts by rising lines even at lower temperatures
- possibility of printing or copying
- no smell and no color change
- does not stick and does not dry
