A Brief History of Printing: From Ancient Times To The Modern Day

Printing is, for lack of a better word, awesome. You don’t have to look far or particularly closely to find printing all around you. In books, in labels, and in products we use every day, you’ll be sure to find some printing. In fact, it’s safe to say that our modern way of life wouldn’t even be possible without the invention and spread of the art of printing. 

But how has printing developed over the years, and just how much do we rely on the magic of printing? We discuss it in our latest blog, check it out here! 

Printing’s Humble Beginnings 

The very first signs of printing can be found in China around 200 A.D or so, possibly even earlier. This kind of printing was called woodblock printing and, as the name suggests, featured woodblocks that would be pressed against cloth or textiles to create different patterns. 

Even the earliest woodblock patterns have colors, with many featuring gorgeous patterns that could be applied to cloth, textiles, and later paper. This was prominent in East Asia for some time before developing in the Middle East in the ninth and tenth centuries as tarsh. By the 1300s, Europe had block printing as well, which further progressed during the 1400s. 

Long before this period, though, moveable type printing was first thought to arise in China and would develop a little past 1000 A.D. Moveable type printing is a printing method that uses metal moveable pieces made using matrices. The benefit of this process over woodblock printing is the increased flexibility.

Woodblock printing remained the most popular type of printing due to its better cost and efficiency, given the thousands of characters present in the Chinese language.

By 1450, Europe would have its own homegrown movable type printing system invented by Johannes Gutenberg. This printing press made many improvements over previous designs, including the use of oil-based ink and newer, more absorbent paper.

This printing press spread across the world following its explosive role in the Renaissance. Gutenberg’s press would prove to be one of the most transformative inventions in the last millennium.

Trust Labeltech With Your Printing Needs!

From 200 A.D. China to the modern-day, printing has been an absolutely crucial part of the human experience. Today, our modern world thrives on printing, and Labeltech is at the forefront of printing in El Paso.

To learn more about how our printing services can help you or your business, contact our team today via phone, email, or by visiting us in person!

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