phototypesetter

A phototypesetter is a device used in the printing industry to produce text and images on photographic paper or film. This method was a significant advancement over older typesetting methods like hot metal typesetting, which involved casting individual metal letters. Phototypesetting machines used light to expose characters onto a photosensitive surface, offering greater flexibility in font design and page layout.

Early phototypesetters were often complex machines with a keyboard input system. The operator would type the text, and the machine would select the appropriate character from a film or glass disc. This character was then projected onto the photosensitive paper or film using a lens system. Different fonts and sizes could be achieved by changing lenses or using different character discs. Later models incorporated more advanced features, including computer control and the ability to set images as well as text.

The process involved several steps. First, the text and images were composed using the phototypesetter. Then, the exposed paper or film was developed in a darkroom, similar to photographic film. The resulting positive or negative could then be used to create printing plates for offset lithography or other printing methods. Phototypesetting allowed for higher quality output, smaller fonts, and a wider range of typographic effects than previous technologies.

Phototypesetting dominated the typesetting industry from the 1960s through the 1980s. It was eventually superseded by digital typesetting technologies, such as desktop publishing and laser printers, which offered even greater speed, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. However, phototypesetting played a crucial role in the evolution of modern printing and graphic design.