GD
Basics |
The
Printed Word |
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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.' |
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Source
By "Printing,"
Microsoft® Encarta®
Online Encyclopedia 2007;
http://uk.encarta.msn.com
© 1997-2007 Microsoft
Corporation. All Rights
Reserved .... more |
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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. |
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The purpose of gathering such
information and stories fictional or real
life was to educate, entertain and to preserve
knowledge and traditions. |
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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). |
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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). |
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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. |
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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.' |
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Source
By V&A; Prints Now:
Directions & Definitions,
article by Gill Saunders,
Senior Curator (Prints)
and Rosie Miles, Curator
(Prints) .... more |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Essential Links on
printing |
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The
Art of Printing ....
more |
From
Gutenberg To Plantin ....
more |
Printing
press from 1811 .... more |
Printmaking ....
more |
Harper History
.... more |
Paper
History .... more |
Print
Now: Directions & Definitions
at the V&A .... 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 |
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Page
Design ....
more |
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