B-LINE, Bell line drawing language

Abstract

Over the past few years increasing interest has been shown in the application of digital computers in the graphics arts and publishing industries. Considerable effort has already been made in developing systems for the editing and publishing of text. Early work resulted in the formulation of algorithms for hyphenation and justification, followed by systems for page composition and correction of text stored internally within the computer system. Initially, the output function of these systems was to control a conventional hot-lead typesetting device. More recently, systems have been designed to control the formation of images on the face of a cathode ray tube (CRT). An image thus displayed is captured by a camera aimed at the CRT, and the resulting film is used to produce plates or mats for off-line volume printing. Systems of this type have been successfully implemented and are in full operation, as for example the MACE (Machine-Aided Composing and Editing) system in use at Bell Telephone Laboratories, and the PAGE1 (Page Generation) system developed by the RCA Graphic Systems Division.