Not to think that the latest technologies arose from the basic idea of the most traditional printing press of all. Of course, printing, as a mechanical process, is very different from what is commonly known as text reproduction.
The revolution and cultural expansion that the invention of this wonderful tool brought about knew no limits. Despite having started with a prototype that was more than all handmade; it has become the most important historical precedent of today’s print media.
That is why many of the printing methods used today have much to thank Johannes Gutenberg for; Well, not only screen printing, lithography, or flexography was born from this invention; but also all digital methods on the current market.
Instructions
It all started conceptually with the ancient Roman seals used on clay tablets. Over the years, the desire to make valuable information last over time; like royal contracts, philosophies, and genealogies, gained strength. This motivation led the human being to try to formalize his ideas in a more standard and enduring way than orality.
For this reason, the famous Chinese Bi Sheng invented porcelain movable type in 1048. This was the premise of the printing press as such and was inspired by the same Roman motivation to preserve information. Then the Korean Koryo perfected the idea by making movable type out of metal in direct anticipation of the famous modern printing press.
Modern printing press
- In 1945 the German Johannes Gutenberg designed the prototype of what we now know as the printing press. However, some historical data suggests that other colleagues in the field had a lot to do with the development of this visionary invention; for example, the name of Mantelin from Strasbourg and the typographer Panfilo Castaldi from Italy Shine. But these are considered reprints of materials already initially edited by Gutenberg.
- Who has not read about the famous scribes and copiers? Those who were dedicated to writing very long manuscripts already when papyrus (paper) existed. Those long scrolls were written by hand, but with the invention of the printing press, the production of written material increased exponentially.
- Previously, “copyists” were used to reproduce confidential material; almost always about government issues, sex, and medical prescriptions. These “copyists” impressively could not read or write; they only artfully copied the letters to reproduce the information or to ensure it. Now, the risk of them finding out some secrets was greatly minimized with the printing press; because there would no longer be a need for a copyist to record the information.
What do you need
- The end of the copyist’s career came to a head when Gutenberg claimed that he could make an exact copy of the Bible in less than half the time that the fastest copyist could. Of course, Gutenberg won the bet, and we already know the result…
- With types of wood and lead, Gutenberg began to copy the Bible and make his dream endure over time rather than on paper, forever. However, like many great inventors, he was short of money; for which he asked Johann Fust for a loan and offered a partnership. They, together with Peter Schöffer, made such an ingenious dream come true.
- However, Gutenberg did not enjoy much success, as it was Schöffer who was financially able to continue the invention. He reproduces thousands of Bibles to the order of the Holy See. In Seville and Burgos you can still get an original copy of Gutenberg’s Bible, as a historical relic of that great success.
- Despite all the fame of the Bible that was reproduced with Gutenberg’s printing press; It is interesting that you know that it was only the second printed book. Well, the first book printed was The Missal of Constance in 1949.
Tips
- Printing these days is not like in Germany in the 50s. Now with new technologies, the digital age covers us from head to toe. What would Gutenberg say about all this? He would be fascinated. Just as we are fascinated ourselves.
- Saving time, money, and effort was always the motivation of all the predecessors of digital printing; but not only that… Remember that the old “copiers” looked for art in the design of the letters, the visual was never detached. That is part of the Greco-Roman spirit that now invades graphic design in terms of fonts.
- Since digital backup and eBooks were invented, it seems that the physical material is going down in history. But it isn’t like that; It is simply becoming more aware of the use of natural resources and the democratization of knowledge.
- The tangibility of information has gone to another level, not as high a priority; since if we analyze the conceptual journey of humanity in terms of ideas, we realize that we went from an intangible non-recoverable oral state to a tangible recoverable written one, which has been sophisticated to a recoverable intangible level, as are the bases of digital data.
- What will come in the future?… Well, let’s hope that another Gutenberg will appear from the cloud storage in history.