Quoin In Typography

Quoin In Typography

Quoin in Typography is a term that refers to the corner of a printed page or a block of type. In traditional letterpress printing, quoins were small, expandable metal or wooden wedges that were used to lock the type and furniture (spacing material) into the chase (frame) to create a tight, immovable form ready for printing. The quoins were placed along the sides and at the corners of the chase, and then expanded using a quoin key, a tool that resembled a wrench. This process, known as quoining, ensured that the type remained securely in place during the printing process, preventing any shifting or movement that could cause the printed image to be misaligned or distorted. While the use of quoins has largely been replaced by modern printing techniques, the term quoin is still used in typography to refer to the corner of a printed page or a block of type. In digital typography, the term may be used to describe the corner ornaments or decorative elements that are sometimes added to the corners of a page or design. Interestingly, the word quoin comes from the French word coin, which means corner or angle, reflecting the quoin's essential role in securing the corners of the printing form.

corner, letterpress, printing, type, typography, wedge

— Stephan Trump