From Hand Printing to Digital Printing

When was digital printing invented? The history of digital printing became what it is today through the evolution of printing tools and machines used to copy text and pictures from one place to another usually onto a medium such as paper or canvas. Before any printing presses, machines and stamps were invented, much of the copying was done by hand. It really wasn’t until the demand for printed material drastically increased and specific inventions such as mechanical printing equipment (like the print press) could meet that demand. As a result, we find that the history of digital printing was hallmarked by specific inventions that replaced the time consuming printing technology of era. Technically, the history of digital printing has always been a process of adapting to the printing needs of society.

Woodblock Printing and Xylography

Woodblock printing dates back before 220 in China but it is unclear when and where these woodblocks or cut wood known as xylography, first came about. Woodblocks were traditionally backwards carved letters and symbols into a block of wood, inked and then pressed onto cloth to make a print of the letters or picture. Woodblock printing really took off in the European countries when the entire text for a page was cut into a large woodblock and stamped on parchment paper.

Modern uses of woodblock printing still exist today in printing art on fabrics by hand and woodblock art for printing on canvas. Click here for a woodblock printing history timeline from Google.

Gutenberg Printing Press

A printing press is a mechanical tool to apply pressure to inked plate which rests on a medium like cloth or paper and transfers the ink. Mostly used for text, the invention of the printing press became a highly significant technology that changed our history.

Around 1440, German Johannes Gutenberg first assembled the mechanical presses which were based on existing screw presses. Gutenberg was a goldsmith and possibly perfected the printing process with his past knowledge of coinage and moulding which made it possible for the quick creation of the metal movable type.

Movable Type and Typesetting

Movable Type is the process of printing where moving parts with letters made of wood, ceramic or metal gave more flexibility to printing or copying. Then came the invention of printing called typesetting which were factory-produced movable type held in a “job case” which was a drawer about 36 inches wide and 2 inches high and about 24 inches deep, with many compartments for all various letters and symbols.

The Pacific Coast Print Foundries of the United States perfected the print process and became known as the “California Job Case”. However, it was the invention of the electric typesetting machines that really set the pace for the modern technology in print.

The Leap to Digital Printing

Digital inkjet printing is now the fastest method of printing with the highest quality. Continuing in the line of the photocopier (invented in 1960), the laser printer (invented in 1969), the Dot Matrix printer (invented in 1970), and the inkjet printer (invented in 1976 and popular in 1988), the digital inkjet printer along with the invention of the personal computer, could produce high resolution photo quality inkjet printing in shorter time frames in larger formats.

It wasn’t until the 1990′s that we really start to advance toward the digital printing technology we have today. Over the 40 years of providing digital printing services, Cliff Digital has adapted to meet the demand for high end digital printing and large format printing services.

Digital Printing History References:

Digital Printing History References:

Wikipedia Woodblock Printing History

EHow Digital Print History

Digital Art Printing in PDF format

Printing History Timelines:

Google Woodblock Printing History Timeline

Google Digital Printing History Timeline

Google Large Format Printing History Timeline

The History of Digital Printing is brought to you by CliffDigital.com. Cliff Digital has been providing fast, friendly digital printing, large format printing, screen printing services and more at competitive Los Angeles prices and fast shipping for over 40 years. Se Habla Español.

Want to make garage door art, make your own wall decals and window clings or design your own t-shirt? Need professional digital printing services? Cliff Digital provides package comps, vinyl vehicle wrapping, cut vinyl lettering and decals, color transfers, graphic and event installations, finishing, laminating and mounting services and many other services. Call for prices and to answer any questions about special orders or artwork design or Contact Cliff Digital by email. You can also design your own products online with our easy picture uploader and product generator! ?

One Response to “History of Print and Digital Printing”