Printers’ Reglets

Printers’ Reglets

Printers' reglets are thin strips of metal or wood used in letterpress printing to create the necessary space between lines of text. These strips are placed between the lines of type to create a uniform and evenly spaced text block. Reglets are typically made of brass, steel, or wood and come in a variety of sizes to accommodate different typefaces and printing needs. Reglets were first used in the 15th century with the advent of movable type printing. They were an essential tool for typesetters, who used them to adjust the spacing between lines of type and to create consistent margins. Reglets were also used to create indentations and other typographic effects. In addition to their use in letterpress printing, reglets are also used in other printing processes, such as offset printing and digital printing. In these processes, reglets are used to create the necessary space between the printing plates and the paper. Despite the advent of digital printing, reglets are still used today in letterpress printing and other traditional printing methods. They are an essential tool for achieving the precise spacing and alignment required for high-quality printing.

letterpress printing, typesetting, spacing, margins, printing plates

— Eric Smith