Fototypsætningens

Fototypsætning, also known as phototypesetting or photosetting, was a method of setting type for printing by projecting characters onto a photographic medium. This technology emerged in the mid-20th century as a successor to hot metal typesetting and metal-based letterpress printing. Instead of physically casting individual metal letters, phototypesetting used light to expose characters onto film or paper.

The process typically involved a machine that held a matrix of characters, often on a rotating disc or film strip. A light source would then illuminate a selected character, and the image of that character would be projected through a lens system to enlarge or reduce it to the desired size. This projected image was then focused onto a photosensitive surface. Once the text was composed on the photographic medium, it could be used to create printing plates for offset lithography or other printing methods.

Phototypesetting offered several advantages over its predecessors. It was faster, quieter, and produced a cleaner, sharper typeface. It also eliminated the need for heavy metal type and the associated melting and casting processes, making it more efficient and less labor-intensive. The advent of phototypesetting was a significant step in the evolution of printing technology, paving the way for the digital revolution in typesetting that followed. Its widespread adoption in the latter half of the 20th century transformed the printing industry.