The standardized vertical dimension of letterpress type, measuring exactly 0.918 inches in the United States and Britain. Every piece of type, rule, and image block in a press form must be precisely this height so the ink rollers hit them evenly and they press uniformly into the paper. If an element falls short, it will not print, and if it is too tall, it will punch through the sheet or smash the type.
Heard on the job
Make sure those new woodcuts are exactly type-high before we lock up the chase.
Insider tip
A traditional test for type-high is sliding a specialized gauge over the block; even a piece of paper's thickness underneath can ruin the impression.
Also heard as
- height to paper