GB2159772A - Copyfitting and graphics layout system - Google Patents

Abstract

A copyfitting and graphics layout system for use in the compiling and layout of textual matter on a page to be printed includes a microprocessor 1 whose output is fed to control a printer 2. The microprocessor is fed with data derived from parameters determined by means of a rule or gauge 3 formed by a transparent sheet bearing information for the typescript copy of a particular type size, and setting out a number of characteristics including the number of lines in the copy for different line spacing and the number of letters or characters per unit of line length. The data derived from the rule or gauge and fed into the computer is controlled by the computer program such as to determine the number of lines required to typeset the copy in the chosen typesetting system. A representation of the graphic layout for each piece of copy is produced as a printout 4 from the printer 2, text being represented as lines. This system is used prior to actual typesetting. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Copyfitting and graphics layout system The present invention relates to a copyfitting and graphics layout system and more particularly to a system for use in the compiling and layout of textual matter and artwork on a page to be printed. The work involved in determining the layout of matter to be printed when compiling pages of newspapers, magazines, books or other literature is both skilled and time consuming. In particular, it involves calculating the area which will be taken up by a given amount of copy to be printed for a given line length or column width, when set in a specific size of type laid out in a particular manner. Very frequently each item of copy has to be set in an area which is determined not only by its own content but by its relationship to one or more neighbouring items of text or artwork.Considerable skill and expertise is necessary not only to accommodate all the desired matter on a page but also to arrange it in a pleasing and attractive manner.

Various aids have been proposed in the graphics art in order to assist in the task of determining the layout and compilation of textual matter and artwork on a page. Thus, a number of slide rules have been devised and there are also published factors and copyfitting tables which are commonly used in the art.

However, despite the use of such aids, the problem of seeking to accommodate a given amount of text set in a particular size of type in a designated area on a page and in relating various items of text to each other on a page in an economic and attractive manner still involves a considerable amount of time and effort.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system which enables the more rapid and accurate determination as to how much area a given amount of copy will take up on a page when set in a given type size and which thereby facilitates the compilation and layout of textual matter on a page, either alone or in combination with other text and/ or artwork.

The present invention provides a system for use in determining the layout of printed matter on a sheet when set in a chosen type size, said system comprising a rule or gauge for determining parameters of copy to be printed, a computer fed with data derived from said parameters and controlled by a program operative on said data to determine the area required to set the copy in the chosen type and a printer operated by the output of said computer for producing a printout on a sheet as a series of lines representing the layout of and area to be occupied by the copy when typeset.

This printout formed as a series of lines representing the proposed layout for the type gives an accurate representation of the area which the copy will fill when set in the chosen type and thus provides a simple and positive indication of the amount and shape of the area on the page which will be taken up by that copy.

The rule or gauge for determining the parameters of the copy, e.g. typescript, to be printed comprises, for example, indicia arranged according to one or more sizes of pitch of the typescript employed, and includes further indicia representative of the number of lines in the copy for different line spacing and the number of characters which may be accommodated in a given unit of length. The rule or gauge bearing the indicia is transparent so that it can be positioned over the copy, e.g. typescript, which is to be typeset.

The data derived by the use of the rule or gauge is fed into the computer, which may be a microprocessor, and is operated on by the computer program which converts the data derived from the rule or gauge and representative of the copy to be printed set in the chosen size of the type into data representative of a number of lines which are those required to accommodate the text in question.

The output from the cmputer is then fed to the printer which produces a printout of these lines which is equivalent to the number of lines of printed type which are necessary to accommodate the desired text in a particular area.

The program is designed to work out layouts from information supplied by the rule or gauge and there is no need to consult factors or copyfitting tables, since the means of computing the necessary factors is built into a memory of the computer.

According to a feature of the invention the program may be capable of providing an appropriate output for each of a plurality of different typesetting systems which have been preselected and taken into account in the production of the program. For example. the program may provide an appropriate output for each of the following typesetting systems: Alphatype, Berthold, Compugraphic, Linotype, Monotype, Quadritec, Scantext and Varityper.

The invention will now be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a simplified block diagram of one embodiment of the system according to the present invention, Figure 2 illustrates one form of gauge or rule employed in the system according to the invention, and Figure 3 is a simple example of a printout obtained from the printer of the system.

Referring to Fig. 1 the system basically comprises a computer in the form of a microprocessor 1 whose output is fed to control a printer 2. The microprocessor is fed with data derived from parameters determined by means of a specially designed rule or gauge 3, one example of which is illustrated in Fig.

2. In the example shown, the rule or gauge is a transparent sheet bearing information for typescript copy of a particular type size, for example 1 2 pitch type, and sets out a number of characteristics including the number of lines in the copy for different line spacing and the number of letters or characters per unit of line length. Although the rule or gauge illustrated is designed for only one type pitch, it could be designed for more than one type pitch. Alternatively, the system may include two or more different rules or gauges for use with different pitchtype. The data derived from the rule or gauge and fed into the computer is controlled by the computer program such as to determine the number of lines required to typeset the copy in the chosen typesetting system.In other words, the program is designed to work out the graphic layouts from information supplied by the rule or gauge 3. The graphic layout for each piece of copy is produced in the form of a printout 4 as a series of lines representing the area which the text or typescript in question will fill when typeset in the chosen type.

The shape and form of the area will of course depend on the length of each line and the inter-line spacing as well as on the chosen type. Typical examples of printouts from the printer 2 are shown at 5 in Fig. 3.

It will of course be appreciated that the area to be occupied by artwork items may also be represented as a series of lines to assist in the overall compilation of a page.

The system according to the present invention greatly facilitates the design and production of graphic layouts. Apart from determining the area required by a given item of copy, e.g. typescript, an indication is given to an editor as to how many words should be added or cut out. Moreover, layouts can be drawn using correctly spaced lines to represent words and artwork can be proportioned.

In this way it is possible to provide cost estimates and work out linebreaks in advance of typesetting. All of these advantageous results may be achieved for any of the predetermined typesetting systems in respect of which the computer program is designed to operate.

Claims (7)

1. A system for aiding the determination of the layout of printed matter on a sheet when set in a chosen type size, said system comprising a rule or gauge for determining parameters of copy to be printed, a computer fed with data derived from said parameters and controlled by a program operative on said data to determine the area required to set the copy in the chosen type and a printer operated by the output of said computer for producing a printout on a sheet as a series of lines or other marks representing the layout of and area to be occupied by the copy when typeset.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data derived by the use of the rule or gauge is fed into a microprocessor and is operated on by the computer program which converts the data derived from the rule or gauge and representative of the copy to be printed set in the chosen size of type into data representative of a number of lines which are those required to accomodate the text in question, the output from the computer then being fed to the printer which produces a printout of these lines which is equivalent to the number of lines of printed type which are necessary to accommodate the desired text in a particular area.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the program is capable of providing an appropriate output for each of a plurality of different typesetting systems.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the program provides an appropriate output for some or all of the following typesetting systems: Alphatype, Berthold, Compugraphic, Linotype, Monotype, Quadritect, Scantext and Varityper.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rule or gauge for determining the parameters of the copy, e.g. typescript, to be printed comprises, a transparent member carrying indicia arranged according to one or more sizes of pitch of the typescript of the copy, and includes further indicia representative of the number of lines in the copy for different line spacing and the number of characters which may be accommodated in a given unit of length, such that the rule or gauge bearing the indicia can be positioned over the copy which is to be typeset.

6. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rule or gauge bears indicia such that it can be used with two or more different type pitches.

7. A copyfitting and graphics layout system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.