Thermoforming

A manufacturing process used to create tactile graphics by heating a plastic sheet and pressing it over a mould to form a raised surface. In accessibility contexts, thermoforming is one of several methods for producing tactile maps and diagrams for people who are blind or have low vision. While it can produce durable raised-line graphics, thermoforming is limited in its ability to create sharp vertical features or overhangs, and produces lower-fidelity tactile detail compared to 3D printing.