Swell Touch Paper for Tactile Graphics
Previously known as ZyTex swell paper
Swell Touch paper is Zychem’s premium heat-activated swell paper for creating high-quality tactile graphics. Manufactured entirely in-house using our proprietary coating, we control every step of the production process to ensure consistent quality, reliable performance, and competitive pricing.
Creating tactile graphics doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming. Whether producing educational materials, maps, diagrams, artwork, or accessible documents, Swell Touch paper makes it easy to create durable tactile graphics with varying heights, patterns, textures, and colors. The finished graphics are reusable, allowing them to be shared and used repeatedly.
Swell Touch paper is also commonly referred to as microcapsule paper, capsule paper, or simply swell paper. While terminology varies throughout the tactile graphics industry, Swell Touch paper is Zychem’s proprietary swell paper manufactured specifically for producing high-quality tactile graphics.
Trusted by educators, accessibility professionals, organizations, publishers, and families worldwide, it consistently delivers the dependable quality required for outstanding tactile graphics every time. Since 1991, Zychem has manufactured Swell Touch paper in-house, maintaining complete control over quality, consistency, and performance.
How Swell Touch paper creates tactile graphics
The Swell Touch process makes creating tactile graphics simple, fast, and reliable. Print, copy, or draw onto Zychem’s specially developed swell paper using black and color inks or toner, then pass the paper through a Swell Form machine or Swell Form Pro machine. As the paper moves through the machine, controlled heat causes the black printed or drawn areas to expand into raised tactile graphics, while colors remain flat to preserve visual detail and contrast.
The result is a durable tactile graphic that can be both read by touch and viewed visually, making it ideal for maps, diagrams, educational materials, artwork, and a wide range of accessible documents.
Free tactile graphics are available from TactileLibrary.com, or users can create their own using a computer and printer, copier, or by drawing directly onto Swell Touch paper with Swell Touch markers.
Getting the best results with Swell Touch paper
Whether you’re printing, copying, or drawing, following a few simple best practices helps produce consistently high-quality tactile graphics. Our user guide includes recommendations for printers, artwork preparation, handling, storage, and practical tips to help you achieve the best possible results with every sheet.
Request Swell Touch Paper Pricing:
Swell Touch paper is available in a variety of standard sizes, with custom sizes available to meet specific requirements. Each box contains 100 sheets, making it easy to order the right quantity for classrooms, organizations, publishers, accessibility professionals, and families.
Contact us for current pricing, available sizes, custom sizing options, or assistance selecting the right product for your application. If you would like to order, we’ll connect you with a local distributor.
Create custom tactile graphics with Swell Touch markers
Swell Touch markers are specially formulated for use with Swell Touch paper, making it easy to create custom tactile graphics without a printer or copier. Ideal for educators, families, accessibility professionals, and anyone creating tactile materials by hand, they produce consistent, reliable raised tactile graphics designed to work seamlessly with Swell Touch paper.
Whether sketching diagrams, creating maps, illustrating concepts, or producing one-of-a-kind educational materials, Swell Touch markers provide a simple and flexible way to create tactile graphics on demand.
Need a specific image, diagram, graph or drawing? Or want to share yours? Choose one from the Tactile Library. The Tactile Library is a free tactile art library with a community that shares downloadable art and tips.