Punchcutting is a craft used in traditional typography to cut letter punches in steel as the first stage of making metal type. Steel punches in the shape of the letter would be used to stamp matrices into copper, which were locked into a mould shape to cast type. Cutting punches and casting type was the first step of traditional typesetting. The cutting of letter punches was a highly skilled craft requiring much patience and practice. Often the designer of the type would not be personally involved in the cutting.
A punch (left) and the respective matrix produced from it (right). The small letters at the base of the matrix are founders marks.
A counter-punch and a punch for letter A
A punchcutter working for the Imprimerie Nationale demonstrates cutting a punch for a Qu ligature.
A demonstration by punchcutter Nelly Gable. The candle is to transfer soot onto the punch to make a smoke proof, a check of the punch's current impression on paper.
Typography is the art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable and appealing when displayed. The arrangement of type involves selecting typefaces, point sizes, line lengths, line spacing, letter spacing, and spaces between pairs of letters. The term typography is also applied to the style, arrangement, and appearance of the letters, numbers, and symbols created by the process. Type design is a closely related craft, sometimes considered part of typography; most typographers do not design typefaces, and some type designers do not consider themselves typographers. Typography also may be used as an ornamental and decorative device, unrelated to the communication of information.
Movable type being assembled on a composing stick using pieces that are stored in the type case shown below it
A sixteenth century workshop in Germany showing a printing press and many of the activities involved in the process of printing
A specimen sheet by William Caslon shows printed examples of Roman typefaces.
Nineteenth century wanted poster for John Wilkes Booth (the assassin of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln) printed with lead and woodcut type, and incorporating photography
