The first printing method to be used in Europe was block printing, and was largely employed in the production of religious images printed on cloth. This method came west from Asia, where as early as 1041, the first movable type printing was invented using clay type. The clay broke easily so was soon superseded by more durable wooden type, and by as early as 1234 books were being printed in Korea using a system of movable metal type.
It is uncertain the exact route by which East Asian printing technology arrived in Europe, but the first appearance was early religious block prints done on cloth, which were common by around 1300. By 1400, paper was readily available, and smaller images could be reproduced, as well as the first playing cards. Text and image first appeared in the mid 15th century in the form of woodcut books. These quickly replaced hand written manuscripts as they were cheaper to produce.
While the first printing press is popularly supposed to have been invented by Josef Gutenberg in Germany in 1440, it seems that the technology had been around literally for centuries in Asia, although it is not known if Gutenberg had access to such knowledge when he first invented his press.
In any case, movable type presses revolutionised the printing industry and early printing houses in Europe prospered. To become a master printer was a sought after career as they not only owned the shops, but selected and edited manuscripts, decided on the sizes of print runs, and sold and distributed the works they produced.
The impact of the printing press was also important for academia. Not only did it lead to the easier dissemination of information, contributing to the scientific revolution, a major advantage was the fact that the same information now fell on the same page. Thus page numbering, tables of contents, and indices, something we take for granted, became common for the first time. The wider availability of printed materials also led to a drastic rise in the adult literacy rate throughout Europe.
Since then, printing technology has continued to develop and today there is a huge range of printing methods available for use in the various branches of this billion dollar industry.
It is uncertain the exact route by which East Asian printing technology arrived in Europe, but the first appearance was early religious block prints done on cloth, which were common by around 1300. By 1400, paper was readily available, and smaller images could be reproduced, as well as the first playing cards. Text and image first appeared in the mid 15th century in the form of woodcut books. These quickly replaced hand written manuscripts as they were cheaper to produce.
While the first printing press is popularly supposed to have been invented by Josef Gutenberg in Germany in 1440, it seems that the technology had been around literally for centuries in Asia, although it is not known if Gutenberg had access to such knowledge when he first invented his press.
In any case, movable type presses revolutionised the printing industry and early printing houses in Europe prospered. To become a master printer was a sought after career as they not only owned the shops, but selected and edited manuscripts, decided on the sizes of print runs, and sold and distributed the works they produced.
The impact of the printing press was also important for academia. Not only did it lead to the easier dissemination of information, contributing to the scientific revolution, a major advantage was the fact that the same information now fell on the same page. Thus page numbering, tables of contents, and indices, something we take for granted, became common for the first time. The wider availability of printed materials also led to a drastic rise in the adult literacy rate throughout Europe.
Since then, printing technology has continued to develop and today there is a huge range of printing methods available for use in the various branches of this billion dollar industry.