punchcutting

Punchcutting is the craft of producing punches that form letters for casting metal type in traditional printing. A punch is a hardened steel rod whose end bears a raised, relief image of a letter. When the punch is struck into a softer metal matrix, it displaces material to create a recess that matches the letter’s shape; the matrix is then used in a hand mold to cast individual type pieces.

Historically, punchcutting developed with movable-type printing in Europe and was performed by specialist craftsmen known as punchcutters. They designed and cut fonts in relief in mirror image to ensure correct orientation in the final type. The work demanded precise control of line width, contrast, serif style, and spacing, with successful punches enabling durable, high-quality metal type. Major centers of activity included Paris, London, Amsterdam, and various German and Swiss towns.

Techniques and tools: a punchcutter uses hardened steel punches, gravers, and staking tools, often with magnification. The process begins with a design drawn at scale, then the letterform is incised onto the end of the punch in relief. After hardening, a matrix is made by impressing the punch into a soft copper blank; the matrix is then hardened and used in a mold for casting. The resulting matrix holds the recessed letter shape, which, when filled with molten type metal, yields a raised letter in the finished type.

Legacy: with the rise of hot metal typesetting and later digital typography, traditional punchcutting declined, but it remains valued by historical printers, typographic enthusiasts, and revival foundries seeking to preserve the craft.