What Actually Happens During Typesetting?

Typesetting is the arrangement of a text into pages that can be read comfortably and consistently. Its success is often measured by how little the reader has to notice it.

A specimen establishes body type, line spacing, margins, headings and supporting elements. The choices should suit the genre, length and physical format of the book.

The full text then introduces exceptions: a short final line, an awkward page turn, a table, an image or a chapter that begins with a long quotation. Each needs attention within the same system.

Final proofs check more than spelling. Folios, running heads, contents, cross-references and image captions must agree. The last stage is patient work, and patience is visible in the finished object.