cold type

Cold type refers to a method of preparing text for printing without the use of molten metal. This technique, particularly common in the United States, utilizes machines resembling typewriters to produce justified lines of text. These machines can vary the width of letters and achieve justification through various mechanisms, such as typing a proof copy that simultaneously perforates a paper tape. This tape then controls a second unit to type the final, justified copy. Some advanced systems use magnetic tapes processed by computers for justification and corrections before final typing. Cold type is a more economical approach compared to traditional metal typesetting.12