The printing press has been a Mainstay in the evolution of communication and the dissemination of knowledge. In this article we tell you its history, how the first techniques emerged, how the first machines worked, the technological evolution to the present day, and curiosities about the traditional printing press that continues today.
Around the year 1040, Bi Sheng invented a printing system using movable type made of porcelain . The idea was very optimal, although a little complicated due to the number of characters in the language. Later, in 1234, Korean artisans simplified this by using Metallic Movable Types , well ahead of modern printing.
In Europe, the technique prior to modern printing was the xylography , which involved carving images and text into wooden blocks that were then inked and pressed onto paper. The oldest printed book preserved using this technique is the " Diamond Sutra " (868 A.D.).
The great revolution came with Johannes Gutenberg, he developed a printing system that would change the world. His key innovation was the creation of movable types of an alloy of lead, tin and antimony , which were durable, easy to mass-produce with molds, and allowed for efficient text composition. He combined these types with a press based on grape presses . His most famous work is the Gutenberg Bible, also known as the 42-line Bible, printed around 1455.
Gutenberg Press
The printer chose letters, numbers, and metal signs, one by one, to Form Lines of Text . After I put those lines together until a whole page is completed. The formed pages were placed and fitted into a metal frame to keep them in place.
Ink was applied to the letters using Pads made of leather stuffed with wool, ensuring that they were all well covered in ink.
The frame with the inked letters was placed in the press . A sheet of paper, usually moistened to absorb ink better . By turning a large crank, a plate pressed the paper hard against the inked letters, thus leaving the text printed on the paper.
Finally, a printed sheet was obtained, and this process was repeated to obtain each copy of the document.
Sixteenth-eighteenth centuries
Wood presses were improving in robustness and precision. Iron presses such as the Stanhope Press (circa 1800), which allowed greater pressure to be applied with less effort and achieved sharper, larger prints.
Typography evolved with new, more legible and aesthetic font designs.
The Nineteenth Century
The Twentieth Century
Ófset Printing: The inked image is not transferred directly from the plate to the paper, but first passes through a rubber-coated cylinder ("mantilla") and from there to the paper. This protects the plate and allows you to print with great definition on a variety of surfaces. The ofset is the most widely used technique for printing newspapers, books, magazines and all kinds of graphic products in large quantities.
They are a type of digital printer that uses a laser to create an electrostatic image.
The laser draws the design of the document on the drum charging it electrically. Then, the toner (a very fine powder) sticks to those charged areas. The drum then transfers the toner to the paper, and by means of Heat and pressure , the powder is permanently fixed.
The result is a fast, accurate and high-quality printing, Ideal for documents, graphics and sharp text. Laser printers are very common in offices and home environments because of their reliability and speed.
One Digital file , as a 3D drawing, is sent to the printer. This machine deposits material (it can be plastic, resin, metal or others) Layer by layer , until the complete object is formed.
It's like building a Miniature Mockup , but in an automated and accurate way. 3D printing is used today in many fields: from industrial prototypes, car parts, medical prostheses to jewelry and even art objects.
Its great advantage is that it allows you to create Custom Parts and Complex Designs that would be impossible with other traditional methods.
It is a technique designed to create large prints, such as posters, billboards, canvases, vehicle wraps or decorative panels.
It is mainly used with Plotters or Large format printers , which allow printing on materials such as vinyl, canvas, photographic paper, fabric or even rigid materials such as PVC or methacrylate.
The result is a visual product of large size and high quality, Designed to stand out in any space.
The origin of "high box" and "low box": The typesetters kept the types in wooden boxes divided into compartments. The box for uppercase letters was usually located at the top ("high box") and the lowercase box at the bottom ("low box").
Wooden letters: Beginning in the 19th century, large letters for posters and advertisements began to be made of wood instead of metal. Why? Because wood was much lighter, easier to carve, and cheap for large sizes. Although they are less used today, many artisan workshops still use them to give a unique and artisanal touch to their printing projects.
The "Fly Foot" (¶): This symbol was used in manuscripts and early printed books to mark the beginning of paragraphs before indentation became popular.
The printing press has been key to the dissemination of information and knowledge throughout history. From the first experiments with movable type in China to today's digital and 3D printers, there has been a Constant evolution to improve the way we print.
Although we now have Fast and accurate machines , older techniques, such as the use of wooden lettering or manual presses, are still highly valued in some workshops and special projects.
This evolution has also greatly influenced the world of signage , where classic printing techniques have inspired the design of signs and posters that we see in shop windows, businesses or public spaces. From vintage trade show posters to today's large large-format prints, printing and lettering have always gone hand in hand to help communicate messages in a visual and attractive way.
The printing press is a tool that has changed a lot over time, but continues to play a key role in many areas, from advertising to design and signage , and it will surely continue to evolve in the future.
The printing press has been a Mainstay in the evolution of communication and the dissemination of knowledge. In this article we tell you its history, how the first techniques emerged, how the first machines worked, the technological evolution to the present day, and curiosities about the traditional printing press that continues today.
Around the year 1040, Bi Sheng invented a printing system using movable type made of porcelain . The idea was very optimal, although a little complicated due to the number of characters in the language. Later, in 1234, Korean artisans simplified this by using Metallic Movable Types , well ahead of modern printing.
In Europe, the technique prior to modern printing was the xylography , which involved carving images and text into wooden blocks that were then inked and pressed onto paper. The oldest printed book preserved using this technique is the " Diamond Sutra " (868 A.D.).
The great revolution came with Johannes Gutenberg, he developed a printing system that would change the world. His key innovation was the creation of movable types of an alloy of lead, tin and antimony , which were durable, easy to mass-produce with molds, and allowed for efficient text composition. He combined these types with a press based on grape presses . His most famous work is the Gutenberg Bible, also known as the 42-line Bible, printed around 1455.
Gutenberg Press
The printer chose letters, numbers, and metal signs, one by one, to Form Lines of Text . After I put those lines together until a whole page is completed. The formed pages were placed and fitted into a metal frame to keep them in place.
Ink was applied to the letters using Pads made of leather stuffed with wool, ensuring that they were all well covered in ink.
The frame with the inked letters was placed in the press . A sheet of paper, usually moistened to absorb ink better . By turning a large crank, a plate pressed the paper hard against the inked letters, thus leaving the text printed on the paper.
Finally, a printed sheet was obtained, and this process was repeated to obtain each copy of the document.
Sixteenth-eighteenth centuries
Wood presses were improving in robustness and precision. Iron presses such as the Stanhope Press (circa 1800), which allowed greater pressure to be applied with less effort and achieved sharper, larger prints.
Typography evolved with new, more legible and aesthetic font designs.
The Nineteenth Century
The Twentieth Century
Ófset Printing: The inked image is not transferred directly from the plate to the paper, but first passes through a rubber-coated cylinder ("mantilla") and from there to the paper. This protects the plate and allows you to print with great definition on a variety of surfaces. The ofset is the most widely used technique for printing newspapers, books, magazines and all kinds of graphic products in large quantities.
They are a type of digital printer that uses a laser to create an electrostatic image.
The laser draws the design of the document on the drum charging it electrically. Then, the toner (a very fine powder) sticks to those charged areas. The drum then transfers the toner to the paper, and by means of Heat and pressure , the powder is permanently fixed.
The result is a fast, accurate and high-quality printing, Ideal for documents, graphics and sharp text. Laser printers are very common in offices and home environments because of their reliability and speed.
One Digital file , as a 3D drawing, is sent to the printer. This machine deposits material (it can be plastic, resin, metal or others) Layer by layer , until the complete object is formed.
It's like building a Miniature Mockup , but in an automated and accurate way. 3D printing is used today in many fields: from industrial prototypes, car parts, medical prostheses to jewelry and even art objects.
Its great advantage is that it allows you to create Custom Parts and Complex Designs that would be impossible with other traditional methods.
It is a technique designed to create large prints, such as posters, billboards, canvases, vehicle wraps or decorative panels.
It is mainly used with Plotters or Large format printers , which allow printing on materials such as vinyl, canvas, photographic paper, fabric or even rigid materials such as PVC or methacrylate.
The result is a visual product of large size and high quality, Designed to stand out in any space.
The origin of "high box" and "low box": The typesetters kept the types in wooden boxes divided into compartments. The box for uppercase letters was usually located at the top ("high box") and the lowercase box at the bottom ("low box").
Wooden letters: Beginning in the 19th century, large letters for posters and advertisements began to be made of wood instead of metal. Why? Because wood was much lighter, easier to carve, and cheap for large sizes. Although they are less used today, many artisan workshops still use them to give a unique and artisanal touch to their printing projects.
The "Fly Foot" (¶): This symbol was used in manuscripts and early printed books to mark the beginning of paragraphs before indentation became popular.
The printing press has been key to the dissemination of information and knowledge throughout history. From the first experiments with movable type in China to today's digital and 3D printers, there has been a Constant evolution to improve the way we print.
Although we now have Fast and accurate machines , older techniques, such as the use of wooden lettering or manual presses, are still highly valued in some workshops and special projects.
This evolution has also greatly influenced the world of signage , where classic printing techniques have inspired the design of signs and posters that we see in shop windows, businesses or public spaces. From vintage trade show posters to today's large large-format prints, printing and lettering have always gone hand in hand to help communicate messages in a visual and attractive way.
The printing press is a tool that has changed a lot over time, but continues to play a key role in many areas, from advertising to design and signage , and it will surely continue to evolve in the future.
