handsetting

Handsetting is the manual process of arranging individual types or components by hand for printing or assembly. In traditional typography and letterpress printing, hand setting refers to the preparation of lines of type in a composing stick before locking them into a chase for casting or inking.

Historically, hand setting developed with movable type in the 15th century and remained standard practice until the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when mechanical linecasting and hot metal typesetting began to replace many manual steps. Skilled workers, known as compositors, selected, aligned, and spaced type by hand, training in the use of type cases, leading, spacing, and ligatures.

The process typically involves selecting individual sorts from a type case, placing them into a composing stick to form a line, adjusting spacing, and preparing a form with furniture and spacers. After a line is built, lines are transferred to a galley, further justified, and finally locked into a chase for printing. The work requires attention to typography, readability, and consistency of spacing, as well as care to prevent ink smears and type damage.

In modern printing, handsetting is largely supplanted by automated typesetting but continues in fine press and hobbyist contexts. Practitioners value the direct control over typographic decisions and the tactile, artisanal aspects of the craft.