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3
Inspiration
What inspired the printing press, along with the medieval paper press, was a Mediterranean wine and olive press. "printing press." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 20 Feb. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/printing-press/102489. Accessed 27 May. 2025. -
1000
Medieval Paper Press
This press was modeled after the ancient wine and olive press. It used a screw to press down on material to make paper! "printing press." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 22 Mar. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/printing-press/603566. Accessed 28 May. 2025. -
1439
The First Mention
The first time a printing press was mentioned was in a lawsuit originating in Europe. It unveils the building of a press for Johannes Gutenberg. The first book printed on this press was the Bible. "printing press." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 20 Feb. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/printing-press/102489. Accessed 27 May. 2025. -
1450
Intaglio
Intaglio (meaning 'to cut into' in Italian) printing's methods were invented in the late medieval ages. The text is engraved into a plate, treated, and the paper is pressed onto the plate to create a picture or text. Dawson, John. "Introduction." Essential Information Online. Lincoln Library Press, 2012. FactCite, www.factcite.com/essential/7020409.html. -
1452
The Holy Press
The first ever book that Johannes Gutenberg's printing press printed was the Bible. It made the translations even more available to general society, and not just rich people. "This Week in History: Johannes Gutenberg Prints His First Bible." News Currents, 28 Sept. 2020. ProQuest; SIRS Discoverer, https://explore.proquest.com/sirsdiscoverer/document/2467992485?accountid=3541. -
1455
Preparation
Ever since the printing press, it's been a mission to make sure what's printed is accurate. Text is checked for accuracy, then graphics come after. Some graphics were so complex that they need to be halftoned. This is when the graphic is photographed in a screen that breaks it down into light and dark, all in dots of varied size that make shades. "printing." Encyclopedia Britannica 2019. ProQuest; SIRS Discoverer, https://explore.proquest.com/sirsdiscoverer/document/2326382368?accountid=3541. -
Metal Press
Richard M. Hoe created the perfect press in the mid 19th century. A large cylinder carried the type, and it could print a whopping 8,000 pages in an hour! "printing press." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 20 Feb. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/printing-press/102489. Accessed 27 May. 2025. -
Color Is Better
In the late 19th century, the offset press was invented. The name comes from how the ink is transferred onto a rubber blanketed cylinder and then onto paper. This invention nearly entirely replaced intaglio and letterpress printing. "printing." Encyclopedia Britannica 2019. ProQuest; SIRS Discoverer, https://explore.proquest.com/sirsdiscoverer/document/2326382368?accountid=3541. -
Steady Improvement
Over the years between the metal press and the inkjet and laser presses, there have been several minor improvements to improve speed, such as automatic paper reels and better paper feed. "printing press." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 22 Mar. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/printing-press/603566. Accessed 28 May. 2025. -
Inkjet Printer
The idea was first brought up in the 20th century, and came into being by the 1950's. The inkjet printer applies ink in lines as the paper moves up. It dries quickly, and is commonly used now! The computer tells it when to fire ink. "printing press." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 20 Feb. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/printing-press/102489. Accessed 27 May. 2025. -
Laser Printers
Lasers hit a film to positively charge the material, then negative charges adhere to the patterns etched in positive charges. It was invented by Gary Starkweather in 1969-1971.
"printing press." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 22 Mar. 2025. school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/printing-press/603566. Accessed 28 May. 2025. -
The Future
Based on the patterns I've observed while researching, I think we will continue to make minor improvements to printing in order to make it faster and cheaper. My prediction is that these will go to laser printing, in order to make it more commonly used.