Copyfitting
Introduction
Copyfitting, or copy casting, is the process by which you plan and specify
the setting of a given body of text to fit an available space. There are
different methods for copy fitting; the two methods for copyfitting covered
by this chapter are the character count method and the line measurement
method. To begin, use a page of double spaced typewritten text on a sheet of
8 1/2 by 11-inch paper. The left-hand margin and the top margin should
measure 1 1/2 inches while the right-hand margin and bottom margin should
measure 1 inch.
Character
To use the character count method of copyfitting, count the number of
count method
characters (letters, numerals, punctuation, and spaces) contained in a
typewritten manuscript and the number of characters per typeset line length
in a chosen size and style of letter to calculate the number of column inches
required.
To use the character count method:
Step
Action
1
Count the number of characters on each page of the typed
manuscript.
2
Determine the number of characters in one typeset line of
determined length in the chosen typeface.
3
Determine the number of lines per inch by
measuring 1 inch and counting the number of lines, then,
divide this number into the total number of lines in the
typewritten copy to get the length of the copy in inches.
4
Make allowances for headings and illustrations using good
judgment and experience.
Continued on next page
1-34
