The typographic punch, the first step in the typographic chain, is a steel bar six centimeters long, one end of which is rounded to facilitate the striking of the matrices and the other end, called the eye of the punch, is polished like a mirror to receive the design of the letter. The letter will be transferred to the reverse and cut in relief. For example, for an "R", the punchcutter will cut an "Я". The outline of the letter will be filed off and the counter (inner parts of a letter that need to be carved out) will be engraved with a graver.

While engraving, the punchcutter will check the outer & inner dimensions of the letter with gauges and smoke proofs*. Once finished, the punch will undergo two heat treatments : hardening and tempering in order to reach the necessary strength to strike a copper matrix.

This same matrix, once justified, will be inserted into a hand mould, or, since the end of the XIX th century, into a foundry machine in order to melt thousands of movable typefaces in relief and upside down (thus "Я").  These individually melted leads will then be assembled by typesetters to produce a printing form which, once inked and pressed into contact with the paper, will produce a print (right side up "R"). 


*a trial impression made on paper or a transparent substance with the face of a punch blackened with soot from a flame.