Hi, Friends of St Brigid Press!
Here is the second installment in our occasional blog series about the words and phrases that identify printing's particular tools and processes ~ A Letterpress Lexicon. Enjoy!
(If you missed Part 1, you can find it HERE.)
Today's 3 words are
TYPECASE, TYPESETTING, and COMPOSING STICK
TYPECASE: A typecase is a wooden tray, divided up into numerous small compartments, in which the letters, numbers, and punctuation of a font of type are organized and stored.
TYPESETTING: This refers to the action of composing words from the individual pieces of type. A printer reaches into their typecase, picks up the desired letter, and literally "sets" it in place beside the last letter placed.
COMPOSING STICK: This is the tool that holds the pieces of type that are being set (or, "composed"). Usually made of brass or steel, the composing stick is held in the non-dominant hand while the typesetter lines up each desired letter. The stick is adjustable, according to how long the line of type needs to be.
And here's a little video to put these three words together!
Thanks so much for joining us on this journey into the World of Letterpress!
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