We Make Visual Art Accessible for All!

 

Welcome to Disabled Art

At Disabled Art, we believe that art should be accessible to everyone, including those who are visually impaired. We have developed an innovative process that transforms photographs into tactile prints using 3D printing technology.

What We Do

Our process extracts the textures and light values from any photograph and converts them into a 3D file. This file is then printed using a 3D printer to create a touchable version of the image. We recommend that each piece be presented with the traditional print, the tactile print, and our tactile QR code. When scanned, this QR code provides a detailed description of the mood, look, and feeling of the original photo, and guides the viewer through the features of the tactile version.

Our Journey

The development of our process was made possible by a generous grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Art and the Redline Contemporary Art Center of Denver. Our work made its debut at the National Federation of the Blind’s national convention in July 2024, the largest gathering of blind and low vision individuals in the United States.

Join us in our journey to make art accessible for all.

Artists and art institutions who embrace accessibility in their work are contributing to a more inclusive society and positioning themselves to thrive in a dynamic and ever-evolving artistic landscape. These artists and institutions are breaking down barriers and demonstrating their commitment to equality and diversity. In this journey, we envision a world where artists are not confined by traditional boundaries and where the beauty of art is not limited by the sense of sight. This transformation is not just a social imperative; it’s an artistic evolution.

Our Mission

Our mission is to make art accessible to those who cannot see it. We are passionate about creating tactile art that allows visually impaired individuals to experience and enjoy the beauty of photography, paintings and so much more.

A closeup of a person touching a tactile prin. There is an electrical effect under the person's finger.

Accessibility Meets Visual Art

We’re passionate about making art accessible to everyone, especially those who are visually impaired. Our tactile prints offer a new way to experience the visual world, allowing individuals to connect with art on a deeper level – through touch. Each tactile print comes with a scannable tactile QR code that provides a detailed audio description of the image, guiding the viewer through its features and textures.

A closeup of a person touching a tactile prin. There is an electrical effect under the person's finger.

 

 

Let’s Create Together!

We’d love to discuss how our tactile prints can help you make art more accessible. Whether you’re an artist, gallery owner, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of the world, we can work together to create a truly unique and meaningful experience.

Contact Us

 

 

Educational Articles

Social Media

Everyone uses social media, learn how to add descriptions and alternate text to your posts to make them more accessible for screen readers and voice over technology. 

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Audio Descriptions

As an artist, you want your work to be experienced by as wide an audience as possible. By offering audio descriptions the next time your work is shown you can not only allow your creations to be enjoyed by all. but audio descriptions can present an opportunity for you to talk about your work in your own words to your viewers. 

Learn More

Tactile Art

With the advent of lower cost 3d printers, creating touchable versions of your 2d art is a viable option. If you are a sculptor, consider creating a smaller version of your piece which is intended to be touched. 

Learn More

A photo of the Golden Gate Bridge under cloudy skies. Sunrays are popping through the clouds. On the left of the frame is the structures that the road sits on. Across the cam waters of the bay the Marin Headlands can be seen.

A different way to experience visual art. 

Our tactile prints are created in high contrast duo colors for those who are partially sighted. We recommend that each print be shown with the traditional photo, the tactile print, braille label and tactile QR code. 

When our tactile QR code is scanned with any cell phone, the viewer is given an audio description of the original photo, including the time of day the image was taken, the mood of the photo and other interesting bits of information – even a small bit of history in the case of iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge. The viewer is then walked through the features of the tactile rendering, detailing each piece of geometry in the tactile print. The QR code at the right works, so feel free to scan it.  

Get Started

 

A tactile print of the Golden Gate Bridge on a white background. Below the tactile print is a braille label and below that is a tactile QR code.

Tactile print features

Why create tactile versions of your photos or paintings? To make your work accessible to those that cannot see it. This will open your work to a new audience. 

 

 

 

 

Accessibility for all. 

Make accessibility part of the next exhibition you plan rather than an afterthought. 

 

Complete package

Our prints come with braille labels and the tactile QR code. We can record the audio for you, or store your audio files on our servers. 

 

Flexibility

When printed, our tactile prints include a small frame around the print, which most people affix to the wall near the original photograph. Additionally we offer a 3d printed frame that affixes to the wall that the tactile print can be displayed in, but allows the viewer to remove and touch.