Editing Movable type (section)

== Type-founding ==
[[File:Long S-I Garamond sort 001.png|thumb|upright|A piece of cast metal type, [[Garamond]] style [[long s]] [[i]] [[Ligature (typography)|ligature]]. See also: [[Sort (typesetting)|Sort]].]]

=== Stages ===
Type-founding as practised in Europe and the West consists of three stages:

; [[Punchcutting]]: If the glyph design includes enclosed spaces ([[counter (typography)|counters]]) then a [[Counterpunch (typography)|counterpunch]] is made. The counter shapes are transferred in relief ([[cameo (carving)|cameo]]) onto the end of a rectangular bar of [[carbon steel]] using a specialized [[engraving]] tool called a [[Burin (engraving)|graver]]. The finished counterpunch is hardened by heating and quenching ([[tempering (metallurgy)|tempering]]), or exposure to a hot cyanide compound ([[case hardening]]). The counterpunch is then struck against the end of a similar rectangular steel bar—the letterpunch—to impress the counter shapes as recessed spaces ([[intaglio (printmaking)|intaglio]]). The outer profile of the glyph is completed by scraping away with a graver the material outside the counter spaces, leaving only the stroke or lines of the glyph. Progress toward the finished design is checked by successive ''smoke proofs''; temporary prints made from a thin coating of carbon deposited on the punch surface by a candle flame. The finished letter punch is finally hardened to withstand the rigours of reproduction by striking. One counterpunch and one letterpunch are produced for every letter or glyph making up a complete font.
; [[Matrix (printing)|Matrix]]: The letterpunch is used to strike a blank die of soft metal to make a negative letter mould, called a matrix.
; Casting: The matrix is inserted into the bottom of a device called a ''hand mould''. The mould is clamped shut and molten type metal alloy (consisting mostly of [[lead]] and [[tin]], with a small amount of [[antimony]] for hardening) is poured into a cavity from the top. Antimony has the rare property of expanding as it cools, giving the casting sharp edges.<ref>{{ Cite encyclopedia | title = Answers.com page on antimony | encyclopedia = McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology | publisher = McGraw-Hill | date = 2005-01-01 | url = http://www.answers.com/topic/antimony | access-date = 2009-06-30 }}</ref> When the type metal has sufficiently cooled, the mould is unlocked and a rectangular block approximately {{convert|4|cm|abbr= on}} long, called a [[sort (typesetting)|''sort'']], is extracted. Excess casting on the end of the sort, called the ''tang'', is later removed to make the sort the precise height required for printing, known as "type height".

=== National traditions ===
The type-height varied in different countries. The Monotype Corporation Limited in London UK produced moulds in various heights:
* {{convert|0.918|in|mm}}: United Kingdom, Canada, U.S.
* {{convert|0.928|in|mm}}: France, Germany, Switzerland and most other European countries
* {{convert|0.933|in|mm}}: Belgium height
* {{convert|0.9785|in|mm}}: Dutch height

A Dutch printer's manual mentions a tiny difference between French and German Height:<ref>Blankenstein A.H.G., Wetser Ad: ''Zetten, uitgebreide leerstof, deel 1'', p.&nbsp;26, Edecea, Hoorn, The Netherlands, 5th edition, ({{circa}}1952)</ref>
* 62.027 points Didot = {{convert|23.30|mm|abbr=on}} = English height
* 62.666 points Didot = {{convert|23.55|mm|abbr=on}} = French height
* 62.685 points Didot = {{convert|23.56|mm|abbr=on}} = German height
* 66.047 points Didot = {{convert|24.85|mm|abbr=on}} = Dutch Height

Tiny differences in type-height can cause quite bold images of characters.

At the end of the 19th century there were only two typefoundries left in the Netherlands: [[Joh. Enschedé|Johan Enschedé & Zonen]], at [[Haarlem]], and [[Amsterdam Type foundry|Lettergieterij Amsterdam, voorheen Tetterode]]. They both had their own type-height: Enschedé: 65 23/24 points Didot, and Amsterdam: 66 1/24 points Didot—enough difference to prevent a combined use of fonts from the two typefoundries: Enschede would be too light, or otherwise the Amsterdam-font would print rather bold. This was a way of keeping clients.<ref>P.J.W. Oly, de grondslag van het bedrijf der lettergieterij Amsterdam, formerly N.Tetterode, edition: Stichting Lettergieten 1983, Westzaan, pp. 82–88</ref>

In 1905 the Dutch governmental {{lang|nl|Algemeene Landsdrukkerij}}, later: "State-printery" ({{lang|nl|Staatsdrukkerij}}) decided during a reorganisation to use a standard type-height of 63 points Didot. {{lang|nl|Staatsdrukkerij-hoogte}}, actually Belgium-height, but this fact was not widely known{{by whom|date=August 2020}}.