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handgesetzt

Handgesetzt is a German term used to describe text that has been set by hand, rather than by automatic or digital composition. It denotes a traditional craft in which individual type blocks, usually metal or wood, are arranged by a compositor to form lines of text before printing. In this sense, handsetzen stands in contrast to maschinelles Setzen (machine typesetting) or digital typesetting.

Historically, handsatz was central to book production from the invention of movable type in the 15th century

In modern publishing, handgesetzt text is relatively rare and usually found in art books, limited editions,

Limitations of handsetzung include higher production costs, longer production times, and less flexibility for large-scale edits.

See also: Setzer, Setzstube, Handsatz, Linotype, Letterpress.

until
the
later
20th
century.
The
compositor
used
a
composing
stick
and
a
case
of
type
sorts
to
build
pages
line
by
line,
adjusting
spacing
to
justify
the
text
and
ensure
even
margins.
The
process
required
skill
in
choosing
typefaces,
point
sizes,
leading,
and
kerning,
as
well
as
meticulous
proofreading.
The
result
was
often
associated
with
high
craftsmanship
and
particular
typographic
quality.
or
high-end
bibliophile
productions.
Printers
may
emphasize
handsetzen
or
hand-set
typography
to
evoke
heritage,
artisanal
value,
or
historical
accuracy.
The
term
is
sometimes
used
in
marketing
to
signal
a
premium,
craft-oriented
production
method,
even
when
some
stages
of
production
involve
digital
tools.
It
remains
a
point
of
reference
in
discussions
of
typographic
history
and
in
contexts
where
traditional
technique
and
aesthetic
are
valued.