Before the advent of computers, graphic designers did text layouts by hand, often using ‘rub on letters’ (also called letter transfers or dry transfers). They came in large paper or plastic sheets and were rubbed onto artwork.

“Transfer” is a generic term used, sometimes inappropriately, for various graphic arts techniques, the most common being pressure-sensitive letter-transfers (patented by the Letraset Corp. in 1960).”

-Eleonore Kissel

When I was in high school during the late 90s, we still had loads of Letraset sheets in amazing retro modern typefaces and I would use them in artwork all the time. Later, during a trip to New York in 2002, a friend of a friend unloaded his massive stash of FORMATT brand rub ons with me. I still occasionally use halftone patterns and lettering in various projects.

These days, sheets of Letraset and its fellow competitors are increasingly hard to find since the cost can be prohibitive. Besides that, personal computers can do text layouts instantaneously with way less mistakes and headaches.

Rub on letters will always hold a special place in my heart; I used them long before computers for text layouts and they sparked my initial interest in typography.