An electronic typewriter comprising portable housing means having a typewriter keyboard comprising a plurality of individual finger keys on the housing means and being readily engageable by the user thereof, with chamber means in the housing means for containing a replaceable supply of paper. The paper having an emulsion sensitive to one portion of the light spectrum as an activating agent for producing tonal changes in the emulsion, and sensitive to another portion of the light spectrum as a retarder to stop further tonal change in the emulsion. Grid means is operatively associated with the housing means and extends in a substantially straight line to produce printed lines, with the grid means comprising printing filaments to which the paper is exposed, and the filaments being capable of producing light in the portion of the spectrum for producing the tonal changes in the emulsion. Coupling means electrically interconnects the keys to the grid means so as to progressively activate the grid means across the line in response to each of the keys on the keyboard being engaged during typing, and advancing means for moving the paper from the chamber means relative to the grid means, so as to produce line by line exposure of the paper to the grid means, such that the printed grid line is thereafter exposed to the light of the other portion of the light spectrum so as to stop the tonal change in the emulsion, such that printed typewritten lines are produced on the paper.