Johannes Gutenberg is known for the invention of the Gutenberg press

The earliest dated printed book known is the "Diamond Sutra", printed in China in 868 CE. However, it is suspected that book printing may have occurred long before this date.In 1041, movable clay type was first invented in China. Johannes Gutenberg, a goldsmith and businessman from the mining town of Mainz in southern Germany, borrowed money to invent a technology that changed the world of printing. Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press with replaceable/moveable wooden or metal letters in 1436 (completed by 1440). This method of printing can be credited not only for a revolution in the production of books, but also for fostering rapid...

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What is a Printing Press?

A printing press is a machine used to make multiple copies of something an artist has drawn onto multiple pieces of paper or fabric. The printing press takes the ink and transfers it to paper or fabric. The printing press was originally developed by Johannes Gutenburg in the 15th century. Gutenburg was the first man to show how practical moving type was. He is credited for developing the first printing press in histo...

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What are Phenolic Bed Plates for a Printing Press?

Phenolic bed plates are an alternative to the old metal plates found in printing presses. These phenolic bed plates are lighter than metal bed plates and great for use in a printing press that uses water based ink because these types of plates will not get rusty like metal plates will. These types of plates for a printing press are typically sold separately and can cost a bit more than metal plates but are a great addition to your printing pre...

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Why Should you Printing Press be Aligned?

If you are using a printing press it is important that you have it properly aligned before printing your material. If your press is not properly aligned you will end up applying an uneven force to the object you are trying to print on. This will allow for your art to turn out fuzzy and obviously not looking even or straight on the surface you were printing. Plus, uneven alignment of a printing press can do damage to the press in the long run. It is best to keep your printing press aligned to avoid these potential proble...

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Some Digital Questions in Printing

Q: What is the difference between vector graphics and bitmap graphics?A: A vector graphic is defined in a mathematical nature which makes it resolution-independent. A vector graphic can be printed clearly at any size. A bitmap image is formed by a rectangular grid of small squares, known as pixels. Each pixel contains data that describes whether it is black, white, or a level of color. Bitmap graphics are resolution-dependent they can appear jagged and lose detail if they are created at a low resolution and then enlarged or printed at a higher resolution.Q: Where do vector graphics come from?A: Vector graphics are typically created by illustration software such as Adobe Illustrator or Macromedia Freehand.Q: Where do bitmap graphics come from?A: Bitmap graphics are typically created by pixel-based...

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Choosing the Right Paper

Paper grade defines paper in terms of its use. Each grade serves a purpose, usually suggested by its grade name. Below are some of the most common classifications of printing papers.Bond papers are commonly used for letters and business forms. They have surfaces which accept ink readily from a pen or typewriter and can be easily erased.Coated papers are used when high printing quality is desired because of its greater surface smoothness and uniform ink receptivity. There are many kinds: cast coated, gloss coated, dull coated, machine coated, coated one- and two-sides, etc.Text papers are noted for their interesting textures and attractive colors. They enjoy frequent use for announcements, booklets and brochures.Offset papers are considered the most economical printing papers. Offset papers...

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Choosing the Right Ink

Choosing the right ink combinations can have a dramatic effect on your finished product. Use this handy ink guide to help you make the correct ink selection. Black ink, as you might expect, is the most common and least expensive ink.Spot colors and tints are printed with premixed inks. You can choose from among thousands of different spot-color inks. A spot color printed at 100% is a solid color and has no dot pattern. A tint is a lightened spot or process color and is created by printing smaller halftone dots of the base color.Process colors are reproduced by printing overlapping dots (halftone screens) of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK)...

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