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GD Basics The Printed Word

 
Quote
'Printing, name used for several processes by which words, pictures, or designs are reproduced on paper, fabrics, metal, or other suitable materials. These processes, sometimes called the graphic arts, consist essentially of making numerous identical reproductions of an original by mechanical means, and the printed book has thus been called the first mass product.'
 
Source By "Printing," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2007;
http://uk.encarta.msn.com © 1997-2007 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved ....
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The art of printing is the oldest technical creative process assigned to graphic design, known to be in existence since 200 B.C. in Ancient Egypt and China, at first used in a form wood or stone carving and then punches and dies to make seals and stamps.
The major development in printing was the invention of paper around 105 A.D. in China and papyrus in Ancient Egypt, which allowed them to document their culture and advance in writing.
Cultural developments, believes, language, technology, their scientific approach and the entire way of life of all past civilizations had been illustrated and written about at first on Cave walls, on a Paper Roll, Illuminated Manuscripts, Codex, Incunabulum, Psalters, Bibles, Books, Textbooks and Dairies.
The purpose of gathering such information and stories fictional or real life was to educate, entertain and to preserve knowledge and traditions.
 

Egypt, China, Syria, Koreans, Greeks and Romans made great contributions in the developments of the alphabets and printmaking. The earliest printing technique was used by the Chinese - rubbing from stone, wood blocks, moveable type in baked clay- by Pi Sheng around 1042 and by 1403, first type foundry was established using letter punch (cast metal characters) by the Koreans.

 

In Europe papermaking came late into existence about 1150 in Spain and in
1157 Jean Montgolfier (1879 - 1962), in France set up first paper mill bearing his name even now. In Italy first paper mill was established at Montefano and then at Umbria by Fabriano (in existence since 13th century- history), the most innovative and important papermaking centre in Europe recognized also for the invention and use of watermark technique.

 
The Italian Classical Literature set traditions that have persisted through centuries in innovative book publishing by setting textual arrangement as:the use of light pasteboard covers, often bound in leather, regularized layouts, page numbering, colophon, with clear Roman and Italic type and uniform system in book sizes known as folio. Woodcuts and engravings were used for illustrations and outline drawings.
 
By 15nth century the printed matter escalated in Europe from the quill pen to paper mills and printing presses that printed on both sides of a sheet and the biggest technological invention was movable type in 1455 accredited to Johannes Gutenberg (1398-1468). It took Gutenburg ten or more years of trials and to master various characters and ligatures to stimulate the style of the scripts. Eventually he had a font of over 300 characters (today's computer font amounts to 125 characters) which revolutionized the world of education and industry and rising literacy generated an enormous need for reading material.
 
Letterpresses allowed identical reproduction of artwork at first by wooden screw type press operated by hand and by the 16nth century first metal press was introduced. In 1782 Aussion constructed first iron press in Paris with modification in the design and with enhanced operating principals. From now on more modifications to the printing presses were elaborated on, and the mechanical power was allowing running more advanced machinery and producing the first mass product.
 
Taking also advantage of the new technological developments paper mills were able to produced cheap paper from wood pulp suitable for the news print which already was in circulation in Europe and in American colonies.
 
To achieve speed and circulation of printed text by impressing type characters on paper another innovation came around of a typewriter. British inventor Henry Mill (1683 - 1771), obtained a patent on for his machine in 1714 and the next patent was issued for a typewriter to the American inventor William Austin Burt (1792 – 1858), in 1829.
 
Earl Stanhope (1753-1816), invented in 1800 an iron press with new leverage system and in 1811 the first steam-powered cylinder press (rotary press) was patented by Friedrich Koenig (1774-1833). In 1814 The Times - was the first newspaper printed by cylinder press available for sale on the streets of London.
 
Over period of time we had developed many different techniques and metal presses but there were only three major printing processes as: Letterpress (printing from raised surfaces); Offset-Lithography (printing from plane surfaces) and Gravure (printing from sunken surfaces).
 
Lithography (literally 'stone printing') was invented by Aloys Senefelder (1771-1834), of Bavaria in 1796 and the process was based on chemical principles, allowing multiple colour reproduction of images on a flat surface. The process of colour lithography was perfected by German printers and in 1837 a Gedefroy Engelmann named the process Chromolitography (colour Lithography).
 
By the 19th century we experienced democratic revolution where lithography was the main means in reproducing colour prints and not only artworks for book illustrations which in the past was available to the privileged few but now every home within society could enjoy colorful illustrations in books, newspapers and other printed matters. The pioneers involved with lithographic and Chromolithography printing were: English Walter Crane (1845-1915), who excel in Children book illustrations; William Sharp (b.1803), introduced the process in America; Richard M.Hoe (1812-1886), perfected the press nicknamed "lighting press"; Louis Prang (1824-1909), invented advertising Trade Cards in 1870s; Shumacher and Ettliner's known for their skilful combining of imagery (photomontage) with Victorian elements like ribbons and decorative patterns and Harper and Brother publishing firm founded in 1817 and become most famous for graphic design and book production launching their finest work in 1840s - 'Harper's Illuminated and New Pictorial Bible' followed by the Harper's Monthly Pictorial Magazine in 1850, Harper's Weekly in 1857, Harper's Bazar in 1867 (woman's magazine) and Harper's Young People in 1879.
 
Quote
'For much of their history fine art prints have been a private art form, designed for connoisseurs and collectors, published in limited editions and hidden away in portfolios.'
 
Source By V&A; Prints Now: Directions & Definitions, article by Gill Saunders, Senior Curator (Prints) and Rosie Miles, Curator (Prints) .... more
The mechanical inventions expanded within Fine Art or Graphic Art and GD profession and the next invention was photo setting which originated through development in photography and the use of chemical substances. In 1950s the first photo-typesetting machine appeared.
All these and other processes evolved for nearly 20 centuries and together with crafts, sciences and engineering contributed to the next biggest innovation of the 21st century which are the computers.
 
Printing play important part in delivering its product to mass market with speed and efficiency as in the past it took dozens of skilled tradesmen - today one person can accomplish the same task much quicker. Modern technology provides all graphic designers with choice and opportunity to develop their skills of desktop publishing by working with computers.
 
Today big publishing companies takes care of most mass printed matter and that includes employment within different departments as: editors, designers', artists, craftsman, technicians, content writers, linguists, illustrators, photographers, promotion, marketing, sale teams and others.
Essential Links on printing
The Art of Printing .... more
From Gutenberg To Plantin .... more
Printmaking .... more
Harper History .... more
Printing in Scotland is almost 500 years old .... more
The Printed Image in the West: History and Techniques .... more
Print News from Print week .... more
 
Page Design .... more
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This site is created and maintained by mpgraphics based on research to assist students in education on history of gaphic design. First published on the 26th March 2001, with Yahoo - Geocities. Until January 2009 mpgraphics had approximately 46.097 visitors
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