Printing Pretoria
The history of printing
The history of mass printing and printing techniques can be traced from C 1400 when the first printing technique was perfected by printing on paper with wooden blocks. These blocks had to carved and changed for each new printing. Johannes Gutenberg, a German, invented the Gutenberg printing method in 1436 and perfected it in 1440. This printing press used movable letters that could easily be changed. This printing method was the standard for all printing until the 20th century. By inventing this printing press, Gutenberg was the first to make printing cheap. Printing as a medium for advertising has been used since C 1500, pamphlets were used for the first time. The printing press was improved during the 1600’s which helped with volume.
The history of printing dates from C 594 when the Chinese pioneered printing by printing from a negative relief. The Chinese book, the Diamond Sutra is the earliest example of printing and is from C 868. Printing has developed with different processes through the years and these printing processes can not only be linked to a revolution in printing but also to the fostering of the arts, religion and even democracy.
Silkscreen printing was one of the first methods of printing also employed by the Chinese whereby they would use a piece of silk and printed through it by means of stencilling. Julius Caesar was the first person to use printing extensively in a newspaper and the printing of comic strips and comic books have been around since the advent of the newspaper.
In 1814 printing machines were improved when steam printing machines with rollers were invented and the Times of London adopted this as their preferred method of printing. The revolving printing press was developed in 1840 and the rotary printing press was developed soon after in 1846. Lithograph printing was developed by the Frenchman, Firmin Gillot in 1859 and the linotype and monotype printing machines were invented in 1885. The development of these printing machines solved the problem of automatically justifying lines and the mechanical distribution of type during the printing process.
There are subtle differences in printing methods. Some can be seen with the naked eye, while other printing differences are only distinguishable by professionals. Lithographic printing is when the ink is printed flat on the surface of the paper. Nearly all modern printing is done in the off-set method of printing. Short-run printing (not a large number of papers) is mostly done digitally these days instead of through lithographic printing. Letterpress printing is when your type or image is indented into the paper by using a raised surface or printing plate. The depth of the indentation on the paper will vary according to the type of paper using with this printing method. Gravure printing is like letterpress printing but of a very high quality. With this printing method, colour seldom “bleeds”. Engraving – this printing method raises an image above the surface of the paper. This printing method yields the sharpest image of all traditional printing methods (as in the case of printing money).
Modern printing methods comprise of several “new” methods that include thermography, foil printing, desktop laser printing, photo-copy printing and inkjet printing. These printing methods are all new innovations and stem from technological advances in personal computers and communication.
In the beginning colour printing was first done by hand. This method of printing had a severe influence on the amount of colour prints that could be made. The first man to pass beyond the experimental stage of printing in colour was a Frenchman, Godefrey Engelman in 1830. He perfected a method of printing where each prime colour was “separated” from the picture before printing and then laid on top of each other during the printing process.
Depending on the method of printing, this manner of communication is fast, affordable and accessible to all. Choose a reputable printer.
PRINTING PRETORIA GAUTENG SOUTH AFRICA
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