type metal
Letterpress casting material
Type metal is an alloy used in traditional printing, cast into blocks bearing raised letters for pressing ink onto paper.
The alloy typically combines lead, tin, and antimony—metals that melt at low temperatures and expand slightly as they cool, producing sharp, durable typefaces.
The term evokes the era of letterpress printing before digital typesetting.
- punchcuttingCarving letters into steel
- monotypeNon-reproducible printed artwork
- printingReproducing text mechanically
- alloyMetallic combination
- linotypeLine-casting printing machine
antimony · dross · letterpress printing · printing press · matrix · electrotype · lead · molten lead · slug · composition · stereotype · sorts · hardness · lead poisoning · ingot · letterpress · molten · cast
- Alloysbrass, bronze, pewter, solder, steel
- letterpressletterpress, galley, composing stick, chase, platen
- lead alloys
- tin alloyspewter, tinplate
- Leadlead, Pb, galena, lead ore, lead pipes
- typographyletters, font, calligraphy, font design, sans serif
type metaldesktop publishing
Computer-based document creation
pixels · PostScript · laser printing · phototypesetting · computer
type, metal, typical, prototype, metallic, archetype, typify, prototypes, typeface