TYPE CASE Meaning and
Definition
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A type case is a specialized storage container or cabinet used in traditional typesetting and printing processes. It is designed to house individual metal or wooden type pieces, or "type", which are used to compose text for printing.
Typically made of wood or metal, a type case features a series of small compartments, or "compartments", each labeled with a specific letter or character. These compartments are arranged in a specific order, typically following the layout of a standard keyboard, to facilitate easy access and retrieval of the desired type pieces.
Type cases are used in letterpress printing, where individual type pieces are hand-selected and assembled to form words, phrases, and sentences before being inked and pressed onto paper. Printers would open the type case, select the required types, and compose the text on a composing stick or galley for printing.
The organization of a type case aligns with the traditional layout of a "typewriter". The case is typically divided into upper and lower compartments. The upper case, also known as the "upper case rack", houses capital letters, punctuation marks, and various symbols. The lower case, or "lower case rack", contains the lowercase letters and additional symbols or ligatures.
Type cases vary in size and layout, depending on the specific typeface or font being used. Common type cases contain 89 compartments, each accommodating different type characters according to the frequency of their usage in written language.
While type cases have largely been replaced by digital typesetting methods in modern printing, they still hold historical significance in the evolution of typography and printing technology.
Common Misspellings for TYPE CASE
- typecase
- type case
- typec ase
- rype case
- fype case
- gype case
- yype case
- 6ype case
- 5ype case
- ttpe case
- tgpe case
- thpe case
- tupe case
- t7pe case
- t6pe case
- tyoe case
- tyle case
- ty-e case
- ty0e case
- typw case
Etymology of TYPE CASE
The word "type case" stems from the printing industry, specifically referring to a case or tray in which printing types were stored. The term "case" can be traced back to Middle English and Old French, where it meant a container or box. It further derives from the Latin word "capsa", meaning a box, chest, or case. In the printing industry, "type case" became associated with the boxes or trays used to hold movable type, which were organized according to the different characters of the alphabet, punctuation marks, and other printing elements.
