Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-10-16
PRINTING WITHOUT TYPESETTERS

The printing OF the current issue Of the Literary
Digest without type or typesetters is an achievement
which is certain to attract wide attention, and it will be
asked II this achievement marks the beginning Of q rev
olution in the art of printing as, a result Of which the
typesetter will be removed entirely from the field.
In order that the publication might be issued de-
spite the strike which has caused the temporary saspen;
sion Of many Of the New York magazines. the Digest used
on a large scale a device which9is familiar to all engaged
in the printing trade. the results of which are to<be found
in every newspaper, but which has been used heretofore
only for special work, and with which the general public
has no occasion to be well acquainted. This method Is
that Of photo-ensraving
Without going into technicalities it may be explained
that the usual method of reproducing a picture. drawing
or other device on a printed page is to apply the photo
engraving system. The design to be reproduced is pho
t%ographed, but instead Of the customary glass or film
negative a sensitized zinc plate is used. The action Of the
light causes chemical changes in the film coating as a
result Of which parts of the plate are left with a. cover
ing which protects them from the action of the acid into
which the metal is plunged. The acid eats away the ex-
posed surfaces, and after proper immersion the plate is
removed with the design traced on it's surface in low re-
lief. The process has many variations, but this is the es-
sential feature. The design can then be reproduced by
casting. electrotyping or stereotyping. ~
In the present case this process has been used to re-
produce a page Of typewriter copy, just as it is ordin-
dIuy uSe 70 EepIoouCe q picture or special design. It's
use permits printing without the setting Of type, which
would be a decided advantage provided equally satisfac-
tory results could be attained, and with less labor.
An inspection Of the copy Of the magazine will con-
vince anyone that the results do not compare with those
reached in ordinary printing. The letters lack the clear,
sharp impression SO desirable on the printed page, and
the sheet has a smudsy appearance. The lines, also, are OF
uneven length. a feature characteristic of typewriter
copy. These are mechanical effects which may be over
come II 1t should be considered desirable to continue the
experiment. 1t is the labor feature which is likely to
prove the greatest obstacle.
In. ordinary printing under modern conditions the
the copy before him. Proof slips of the type are taken.
and these are read for errors. When an error appears
the correction is marked, and the correction is made by
casting a new line and substituting it for the one in which
sheet the work Of making corrections occupies but a few
minutes. If the Photographic process is used, if but a
single error appears on a page. either the entire page
must be rewritten. or the error must be erased and the
correction inserted 80 carefully that the camera will
make no record of it. Under ordinary conditions all OF
this would consume more time than would the setting
and correcting of type. 81.
1t is possible, Of course, that ways will be found to
overcome all Of these difficulties, but for the present this
method must be regarded chiefly as an interesting exper.
iment, and a means adopted under stress to meet an
emergency. %