In the realm of book and publishing, “letterset” describes a printing process that predates the digital revolution. Before digital methods became widespread, letterset printing involved arranging individual metal or wooden letters on a layout board to create text and images for print – also referred to as photocomposition or paste-up.
The traditional approach to letterset printing required selecting and organizing physical type blocks for each letter or character. Meticulous precision was vital in aligning and spacing these blocks to achieve visually pleasing and readable compositions.
Once the desired layout was achieved, the typeset elements were affixed onto a larger paste-up board using glue. This paste-up board was the master copy, ultimately photographed or scanned to produce film negatives for printing press plates. These plates facilitated the mass production of books or other printed materials.
From the mid-19th century until the late 20th century, letterset printing reigned supreme until digital technologies eventually overtook it due to its labor-intensive nature. Desktop publishing software transformed traditional typesetting with computerized systems, enabling faster and more efficient production processes.
Although less prevalent today, letterset printing possesses a nostalgic allure often associated with vintage publications. Some publishers or designers may employ letterset techniques for specific projects or artistic purposes, appreciating the handcrafted quality and tangible experience it offers.
In essence, letterset printing entails manually arranging metal or wooden letters onto a paste-up board—a classic method of creating print-ready layouts through typesetting. It played a prominent role in pre-digital publishing but has been supplanted by newer technologies. Nevertheless, it remains relevant as an essential historical technique cherished for its distinctive aesthetic appeal—even found sporadically in select contemporary projects.