Friday, November 11, 2011

Minding my p's and q's

I had a lovely experience yesterday.  One of the third year MA students gave me and another first year an informal typesetting lesson.  I have always wanted to learn how to do this and our University has a whole room full of different types which is a wonderful resource and I would like to make use of it.

Forming the words, in mirror image form on a composing stick.

Leading that creates the spaces above and below the type.

A galley on which the type is slid to store or transfer onto the stone.

I just love all the old labels on this cabinet.

The letters are now on the stone.

A chaser (the metal frame) is placed on the stone and the letters are surrounded by 'furniture' to block in the letters and then a quoin key is used to lock everything together.

A gentle tap with a mallet to ensure all letters are level.

By locking the letters in you can safely transfer it all to the press ready for inking.

Voila!!



4 comments:

Holly Windsor said...

Lovely. Are you going to incorporate this in your prints now?

Lynne E. Windsor said...

Hello Holly darling! Yes, eventually.... some poems probably. xx

Jala Pfaff said...

That is so cool!

Lynne E. Windsor said...

Hi Jala, thanks, it was fun...