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противозатравочные компенсаторы

English translation: counter-etching compensators

14:53 Apr 10, 2015
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Printing & Publishing
Russian term or phrase: противозатравочные компенсаторы
This is in a text about typefaces and their development. Here it is talking about serifs and how they were used by the Romans. I have absolutely no idea what it could be. It doesn't seem to actually exist. Here is the sentence (and the sentence before):

"В монументальном шрифте, выгравированном на камне, засечка — естественный способ плавно свести штрих на нет, заодно придав его окончанию четкость. Можно сказать, что римские засечки — первые в мире противозатравочные компенсаторы."

All ideas gratefully received :)
Nicky Brown
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:28
English translation:counter-etching compensators
Explanation:
Counter-etching is a term in lithography, having to do with surface restoration. I suppose it could be applied, figuratively, to the way a serif allows trailing off the letter, back to the surface. I don't know about "compensators" in that context (a "compensator" in the modern printing industry is an element of a web press, which doesn't fit your context at all), but rather than use some contorted phrase with "the first ever means of counter-etching compensation", it seems to me that if the author is playfully applying a modern printing/lithography term to ancient carved serifs, that you could write a synthetic phrase in English. If, of course, "counter-etching" is the right guess.

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Note added at 2 days21 hrs (2015-04-13 12:28:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Thinking about it some more, it occurred to me that if "counter-etching" is correct, then the "compensators" could be generalized to "technique" - "the world's first counter-etching technique."
Selected response from:

Rachel Douglas
United States
Local time: 20:28
Grading comment
Thank you, Rachel, for your response. I'm still checking with the client, but "counter-etching technique" certainly fits with the style of the text.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4flat etch compensation means
Vitaly Ashkinazi
2 +1counter rudimentary offset type
Donald Jacobson
1counter-etching compensators
Rachel Douglas


  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
flat etch compensation means


Explanation:
This is a metaphore.
Новый импульс к развитию засечки получили после изобре-
тения типографской антиквы. Для печатного шрифта, особенно
мелкого, затравка углов – главный бич. Буквы, отлитые из мяг-
кого гарта, быстро стираются о бумагу. Возможно, поэтому, на-
чиная с первопечатных книг, засечки стали удлиняться.

словарь Мультитран
www.multitran.ru/c/m.exe?a=3&&s=flat&sc=104&l1=1...
flat etch · затравка (в многоступенчатом травлении клише). flat etching · затравка · flat etching · ослабление (фотографического изображения). flat etching ...



Vitaly Ashkinazi
Russian Federation
Local time: 03:28
Native speaker of: Russian
PRO pts in category: 4
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +1
counter rudimentary offset type


Explanation:
or counter flat etch offset type

Donald Jacobson
United States
Local time: 19:28
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  cyhul
15 hrs
  -> Thank you, Cyhul !
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22 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
counter-etching compensators


Explanation:
Counter-etching is a term in lithography, having to do with surface restoration. I suppose it could be applied, figuratively, to the way a serif allows trailing off the letter, back to the surface. I don't know about "compensators" in that context (a "compensator" in the modern printing industry is an element of a web press, which doesn't fit your context at all), but rather than use some contorted phrase with "the first ever means of counter-etching compensation", it seems to me that if the author is playfully applying a modern printing/lithography term to ancient carved serifs, that you could write a synthetic phrase in English. If, of course, "counter-etching" is the right guess.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days21 hrs (2015-04-13 12:28:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Thinking about it some more, it occurred to me that if "counter-etching" is correct, then the "compensators" could be generalized to "technique" - "the world's first counter-etching technique."

Rachel Douglas
United States
Local time: 20:28
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 36
Grading comment
Thank you, Rachel, for your response. I'm still checking with the client, but "counter-etching technique" certainly fits with the style of the text.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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