In traditional letterpress printing, this wedge-shaped block sits at the bottom edge of a composed page of type. It works alongside quoins to apply clamping pressure against the typeform. By driving the quoins tight against the bevel, the compositor secures the entire arrangement of loose metal type so it can be lifted and printed without spilling.
Heard on the job
Slide the footstick in at the bottom before you start tightening those quoins.
Insider tip
Always check that the bevel faces the quoins correctly, or you will not get an even lockup across the bottom of the page.
Also heard as
- Foot stick