With printing technology so prevalent in today’s world, it is easy to forget the impact it had when it was first invented. Printing helped improve literacy rates where before, only a handful of people could read and write, and usually only in Latin. In addition, printing allowed news to reach the masses, as well as being the basis for many scientific breakthroughs over the centuries. So, when was printing invented? Let us look at some of the early printing inventions that eventually led to the printing press, the basis for all mass printing technology today.
Before the Printing Press
Early forms of writing such as cuneiform have existed since around 3000 BCE in places such as ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. Such writings were often handwritten by a scribe, carved into clay tablets, or written with ink on papyrus. As such, the art of writing was limited to only the select few who could master this skill. In addition, the amount of time and labour invested meant that only limited writings could be produced. This remained the case until the 6th century CE, during the Tang dynasty, when Chinese inventors developed woodblock printing. This technique used wooden blocks and ink to create texts by physically pressing them on paper. However, these wooden blocks were fixed, and new blocks needed to be made for each page. Then in 1041, Chinese inventor Bi Sheng invented movable type using individual clay blocks. This allowed the printer to move the blocks around to form different texts as needed. This process was further refined in 1298 by the inventor Wang Zhen who created a mechanised system that could move the blocks around, reducing the amount of labour involved. This form of movable type printing would reach Europe around the late 14th century and become the basis for the invention of the printing press.
Invention of the Printing Press
Johannes Gutenberg began work on his printing press in 1436, and four years later, he completed his invention. His version of movable type printing was the first of its kind. It used oil-based inks that lasted longer than traditional water-based inks, and the type was made of stronger metals that did not break easily as clay and wooden ones did. Gutenberg’s invention took Europe by storm, making information more freely available to the masses. By 1465 German inventors were already improving on Gutenberg’s technology, and by 1476 William Caxton had established the first printing press establishment in England under Edward IV.
Printing Innovations Through the Ages
- In 1846, American inventor Richard March Hoe introduced the rotary press. This system used rotating cylinders to print on continuous paper rolls. The rotary press could print thousands of sheets an hour, making it perfect for mass printing.
- Developed in 1875 by Robert Barclay for printing on metal, offset printing was adapted for printing on paper in 1904 by Ira Washington Rubel. This printing style uses an offset plate that binds ink to paper, creating high quality, sharp images.
- Linotype printing was introduced by the German inventor Ottmar Mergenthaler in 1885. This allowed typesetters to compose lines of text using a keyboard, similar to a typewriter, rather than manually composing lines of print by hand.
- Digital laser printing was developed by the Xerox Corporation in 1971. This printing technique uses photosensitive equipment to transfer images from a screen to a sheet of paper. The first home laser printer was introduced by Canon in 1982, becoming common in households in the 1990s.
- 3D printing has been around in some form since 1983, when Chuck Hall used his stereolithography method to turn liquid polymer solid using UV light. This innovation combines 3D technology to generate objects using heated material.
Printech Express
Here at Printech Express, we offer a wide range of printing options. Whether you need business cards, promotional materials, office stationery or anything else, we can create high quality material at a competitive price. Take a look at our brochure printing services to find out more.