In The Beginning
Printing has been around since the ancient times. In fact, it has a very old history dating back to 3000 BC during the Mesopotamian civilization. During this period, artworks and prints feature lovely images with complex details produced with the use of unusual objects from the environment until woodblock printing was discovered and later on, digital printing, 3D printing and other technological developments in printing evolves.
Block Printing – The Beginning
Block printing is the first official method known to mankind. This printing technique is used in printing images, patters and texts on paper, textile and any other surface. It is widely used in countries in East Asia such as China and India as well as in Europe.
The earliest accounts on woodblock printing can be traced in China and it mainly involves flower prints on silk fabrics. These were the products of the Han Dynasty in the 220 BC. Later on, woodblock printing was used on paper as influenced by Buddhism through the need to distribute multiple copies of chronicles and texts for religious purposes. The oldest book printed book in China using this method is entitled “Diamond Sutra”.
In India, woodblock printing is mainly used in preserving and copying texts as well as perpetuating the scriptures. In Europe, block printing is already an old practice and was mainly used for cloth printing. In the 1400, this printing method was used in the country for printing religious images and printing cards.
The Following Years
After the discovery of woodblock printing, several printing methods arise such as the movable printing type in the 1040 and the rise of the first printing houses in Gutenberg. These printing houses were operated by master printers and their main tasks were to edit and choose manuscripts, identify print run sizes, sell produced works and raise capitals.
In 1847, the rotary printing press was invented by March Hoe This method of printing makes use of carved cylinder to print on paper rolls, plastic, cardboard and other substrates. This method was improved later on in 1863. Along with rotary printing is the rise of Intaglio printing where printing is made through an incised image into a plate or matrix. The incisions on the plate are made through mezzotint, engraving, aquatint and dry point.
Lithography, Colour, Offset, Screenprinting
In 1796, a new printing method was invented called lithography. It is a printing method on a smooth substrate that makes use of chemicals to create images. In 1875, colour printing was discovered by a group of master printers. The first colour printing utilized coloured woodblocks.
In the same century, offset printing became prevalent where images are printed by transferring images from a rubber blanket or plate to a printing surface. This method can be combined with lithographic printing to come up with a pantographic or flat image. In the 1907, screen printing had emerged from basic stencilling and believed to have its roots from the Japanese people who made use of inserted inks and banana holes on fabrics or clothing. Screen printing was later on adopted in England, France and other parts of the world.
Modern Printing
After the invention of photocopiers in the 1960s, lots of modern printers were invented like the thermal printers that produce images in heated thermal paper. This was followed by laser printers in the year 1969 and this works like a modified photocopier machine. In 1970, the dot matrix printer was invented which is a kind of computer printer which works by running back and forth a printing paper through an inked ribbon. A few years later, inkjet printers were invented and these transferred images through propelling ink droplets on paper.
The age of modern printing give rise to digital presses, the development of 3D printing and other technological developments in printing such as etching, half toning, engraving and there will surely be further developments over the years.