"Photo typing" refers to two distinct yet related historical methods crucial to printing and graphic reproduction: the creation of metal printing blocks to reproduce images, and the photographic process of setting text for publication. These techniques revolutionized how images and text were prepared for the printing press before the advent of fully digital solutions.
Phototype as a Printing Block for Image Reproduction
One interpretation of "photo typing" relates to the creation of a phototype—a specialized metal printing block used to accurately reproduce photographs and other visual content in printed materials. This method was a cornerstone of traditional printing, allowing for the faithful replication of intricate images.
How Phototypes are Prepared
These metal blocks were essential for integrating photographic images into publications.
- Preparation Method: A phototype block was often prepared using sophisticated techniques like photogravure, a process that involved transferring a photographic image onto a metal plate, which was then etched to create recessed areas for ink. This allowed for rich, continuous-tone image reproduction.
- Image Structure: Many phototype blocks, especially for commercial printing, produced what is known as a halftone image. Halftoning uses an array of tiny dots of varying sizes or density to simulate continuous tones, making photographic reproduction possible with traditional printing presses that could only print solid colors.
Role in Traditional Printing
Before digital imaging, phototype blocks were indispensable. They were mounted on printing presses alongside text blocks, enabling the mass production of newspapers, magazines, and books containing photographs. This method ensured that visual information could be widely disseminated with high quality for its time.
Phototype in Typesetting: The Phototypesetting Process
The term "photo typing" can also refer to the process of phototypesetting, where type (text characters) was set using photographic methods. This innovative technique significantly streamlined the preparation of pages for printing, eventually replacing older, more labor-intensive methods.
The Phototypesetting Process
Phototypesetting involved projecting light through individual character negatives onto photosensitive paper or film. This created sharp, high-resolution text that was then used to create printing plates.
- Mechanics: Operators would type out text on a special keyboard. Instead of casting metal type, the machine would optically project the corresponding characters from a font master (a negative image of the alphabet) onto photographic film or paper, one character at a time, forming lines and pages of text.
- Output: The result was a photographic film or paper master containing the typeset text, which was then used in the photolithography process to create printing plates. This method offered much greater flexibility in terms of font styles, sizes, and layout compared to its predecessors.
Historical Significance and Evolution
Phototypesetting marked a pivotal advancement in printing technology:
- Replacement of Hot Metal Typesetting: This process directly replaced hot metal typesetting, a traditional method where individual lead characters were cast and assembled into lines and pages. Phototypesetting was cleaner, faster, and offered superior type quality and versatility.
- Bridge to Digital: While phototypesetting was eventually superseded by digital typesetting and desktop publishing in the late 20th century, it served as a crucial transitional technology, laying much of the groundwork for modern computer-aided design and print production workflows.
| Feature | Hot Metal Typesetting | Phototypesetting | Digital Typesetting (Modern) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium of Type | Molten lead alloys | Light projected onto film/paper | Digital files, software rendering |
| Physical Output | Metal slugs/plates | Photographic film/paper masters | Digital files (e.g., PDFs) for CTP |
| Flexibility | Limited; physically heavy and rigid | High; wide range of fonts and layouts | Very high; instant changes, vast options |
| Speed | Slower, complex setup | Faster than hot metal, but still physical | Instantaneous, highly automated |
| Error Correction | Difficult, required recasting | Easier to edit film/paper | Very easy, real-time edits |
In summary, "photo typing" encompasses fundamental processes that transformed printing from purely mechanical assembly to methods incorporating photographic and optical technologies, paving the way for the digital age of publishing.
