IMPOSING READING CORRECTING 



In like manner the blank parts of last lines of paragraphs 

 are filled with quadrats. 



11. When the pages of one side of a sheet have been thus com- 

 posed, they are placed in the divisions of an iron form called a chase, 

 c, D, several of which appear in the view of the composing-room, 

 fig. 1. These chases, of course, vary in their form and mode of 

 division according to the size and number of the pages which form 

 a sheet. We have here supposed the pages which are composed 

 and arranged in the chase to be those which are required to be 

 printed on one side of the sheet. A similar number are composed 

 and similarly put together in another chase, being those to be 

 printed on the other side of the sheet. 



12. Imposing. The process of arranging the pages in the 

 chase is called "imposing." 



13. Readers and Correctors. When the pages composing 

 each side of the same sheet have been thus " imposed" and the 

 types securely fastened in the chase by proper wedges, the chases are 

 brought to a printing-press, which will be presently described, 

 where a single impression is taken from them, called the first 

 proof, which, being properly folded, is taken to a person called 

 the " reader" who has always a boy capable of reading the 

 manuscript to assist him. While the boy reads the manuscript, 

 the "reader" follows him upon the proof, which he carefully 

 examines, and upon which he marks the errors of the compositor. 

 The proof is then returned to the compositor, who corrects the 

 errors indicated by the reader, and a second impression is then 

 taken with more care, and generally on better paper. This is 

 called a clean proof, and is again examined by the reader to 

 ascertain whether the compositor has corrected all the errors 

 previously indicated ; and if there are none uncorrected, the 

 proof is then sent to the author. In good printing-offices there are 

 few or no press errors found in the author's proof, those corrected 

 by him being in general errors which had been overlooked in his 

 own manuscript, or corrections of language suggested to him in the 

 revision of the sheet. 



14. After the sheet has received the correction of the author, 

 the form to be printed is laid upon a horizontal table, with the 

 faces of the types uppermost, and the following operations are 

 executed: 1st. Printing-ink is applied to the faces of the type, 

 so evenly that there shall be no blotting or inequalities in the 

 printing ; 2nd. The sheet of paper to be printed is laid upon the 

 form so as to receive the impression of the type in its proper 

 position, and in the centre of it ; 3rd. This paper is urged upon 

 the type by a sufficient pressure to enable it to receive the printed 

 characters, such pressure, however, not being so great as to cause 



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