typezetting

Typezetting, or typesetting, is the preparation of text for publication by arranging type or digital glyphs into a page layout. The goal is to produce readable, aesthetically balanced text with consistent spacing and alignment. In Dutch usage, typezetting refers to both the craft of manual type setting and its modern digital forms.

Historically, typezetting began with movable metal type in the early modern period. Printers created lines of text by picking individual metal sorts from a tray and placing them in a composing stick to form a page. The process required skill in choosing fonts, sizes, and spacing. Gutenberg's innovations in the 15th century enabled mass production. In the 20th century, phototypesetting and later digital typesetting replaced metal type, reducing physical handling and enabling complex page layouts.

In traditional typezetting, decisions about typeface, point size, leading, kerning, and justification affect readability and tone. The line length, margins, and grid structure influence the page rhythm. Proofing and hyphenation are used to minimize rivers of white space and avoid awkward line breaks.

Today, digital typesetting uses fonts as scalable digital glyphs and software to automate practically all steps. TeX and LaTeX are widely used in academia for precise mathematical typesetting; word processors and desktop publishing programs are common in publishing and design. Accessibility considerations, such as high-contrast text and screen-reader friendly spacing, are increasingly important.

Typezetting remains central to typography and page design, balancing technical constraints with aesthetics to ensure clear communication.