tüüptrükist

Tüüptrükist, also known as typeface printing or letterpress printing, is a traditional method of printing that uses a relief printing technique. In this process, individual letters or characters, known as type, are arranged on a printing press. These types are typically made of metal, wood, or other hard materials, with the characters raised on their surface. When the type is inked, only the raised surfaces come into contact with the paper, transferring the ink and creating an impression. This method was the dominant form of printing for several centuries.

The process of setting type, known as typesetting, was historically a highly skilled craft. Compositors would arrange individual pieces of type from a case, a compartmentalized drawer, into words, lines, and then pages. Once the type was set and locked into a frame called a forme, it was inked using rollers. Paper was then pressed against the inked type, either by a flat platen or by a cylinder. The resulting print is characterized by a distinct tactile impression, often referred to as "bite," where the ink is slightly pressed into the paper.

Tüüptrükist was widely used for books, newspapers, and other printed materials until the advent of offset lithography and digital printing in the 20th century. While no longer the primary method for mass production, it remains in use for specialized applications such as fine art printing, limited edition books, and artisanal stationery, valued for its aesthetic qualities and historical significance.