A sort in traditional typesetting is an individual piece of type that bears the impression of a single letter, numeral, punctuation mark or other symbol. Cast in metal or carved in wood, sorts are combined side by side to compose lines of text, which are then locked into a chase to form a forme for printing. The manual assembly of these pieces is commonly called hand compositing.
Physical characteristics
Each sort has a raised image on one end called the face; the remainder of the piece is the body or shank that positions the face at the correct height. Foundries control dimensions so faces sit at a standard ‘‘type high’’ across a collection of sorts. Metal sorts are typically cast from low-melting alloys and wood was used for very large display sorts. Small features such as nicks or shoulder shapes help the compositor orient a sort and allow it to lock solidly with neighbouring pieces when the forme is assembled.
Manufacture and tools
Traditional production begins with a master punch that is driven into a matrix to form a negative impression. The matrix or mould holds the pattern into which molten metal is poured; this process is described as casting. Type foundries produced sets of matrices and punches for each size and face. Over time, hand casting and manual finishing were supplemented by mechanised systems that increased speed and consistency. Technical steps and specialised tools used in making and handling sorts remain topics of study among practitioners.
Organisation and use
Sorts are stored and organised in type cases and trays to make retrieval efficient. The familiar terms "uppercase" and "lowercase" come from the historical arrangement of capitals in an upper case and small letters in a lower case. Sets include letters, spaces and various widths of blanks (quads or spaces), figures, punctuation, ligatures and diacritic elements needed for different languages. Compositors place sorts into a composing stick to build lines, transfer lines to a galley, and finally lock them into a forme for proofing and printing.
Composition and printing process
After composing, the forme is locked with quoins to make a rigid impression surface. Ink is applied to the raised faces of the sorts and paper is pressed against them to take an impression. Because metal wears with use, sorts were periodically repaired, recut or remade from matrices. Reclaimed metal from old sorts was commonly melted down and reused in new casting.
History, machines and legacy
Movable type and individual sorts enabled repeatable, high-volume printing and played a central role in the history of written communication. During the 19th and 20th centuries, mechanised typesetting systems and later phototypesetting and digital fonts largely replaced physical sorts in mass printing. Machines such as hot-metal typesetters automated composition and casting, changing the role of the individual sort while preserving many of its principles.
Terminology and modern perspective
In typographic usage a "sort" denotes the physical object, whereas a "glyph" refers to the visual form reproduced on the page and a "font" historically meant a complete set of sorts of one design and size. Modern digital type emulates these roles with outline shapes and files rather than metal or wood. For practical introductions to traditional techniques consult resources on hand compositing, casting and foundry practice, notes on cast processes, discussions of symbols and glyphs, and technical descriptions of matrix mould construction.
Collecting and preservation
Physical sorts, cases and related tools are collected by museums, libraries and private practitioners. Letterpress revival movements and small presses continue to use and preserve sorts for their tactile qualities and historical value, keeping alive the skills of composing, locking and printing from individual pieces of type.