Kern

Technology has a lifespan, and only once it has passed from usefulness in a larger economic system does it move into an artistic one. Letraset was more ubiquitous in terms of concrete poetry in the 1970s and 80s when its availability was more prevalent, however it failed to gain a larger foothold in the poetic community because of its cost (which was often over $20 per sheet). Once letraset dropped in price—which was brought about by the increased use of computers in the graphic...
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Technology has a lifespan, and only once it has passed from usefulness in a larger economic system does it move into an artistic one. Letraset was more ubiquitous in terms of concrete poetry in the 1970s and 80s when its availability was more prevalent, however it failed to gain a larger foothold in the poetic community because of its cost (which was often over $20 per sheet). Once letraset dropped in price—which was brought about by the increased use of computers in the graphic design and drafting areas—it then had larger use in poetic circles. Now, it is rarely found in stores, and is used mostly is novelty fonts for scrap-booking and hobbyists. The last store I was able to find letraset in bulk sold mostly to model airplane builders who required smaller dry-transfer typefaces in order to correctly label scratch-built models. Its use is become more and more hermetic.