Printing was invented in China (woodcut technique) and the earliest examples date to before 220 CE. The first modern printing press (movable metal type) was invented in Germany and the Gutenberg Bible was among the first mass-produced books. Ever since, printing technology has steadily evolved for producing not only premium quality 2D printouts but also 3D objects in the second decade of the 21st century. With so much advancement in printing methodology, it is easy to forget that for the longest possible time only a handful of simple techniques existed for mass-producing printed books and journals. Let us look back at 4 such historically significant printing techniques down the ages.
1. Woodcut or Woodblock
Many people use the terms Woodcut (East Asia) and Woodblock (Europe) interchangeably since the distinctions are vague. It is basically a relief carving on a gouged wood block. In antiquity, the raised portions were smeared with ink and pressed against fabric (eventually paper), thus transferring the line-art impressions. This is where the term “press” comes from and continues till this day. The gouged portions did not come into contact with the paper or fabric (leaving “negative spaces” between the line works). This technique originated in China nearly 2,000 years ago and till about a century ago, consisted of black and white or single colour impressions. While the East Asians used water based inks applied with brushes, the Western artists used oil based inks applied with brayer rollers. Water based inks produced very soft and airy visual appearance. Oil based inks produced opaque, bolder and more durable colours.
2. Lithography
This printing technique was invented in 1796 by German author and actor Alois Senefelder. The word Lithography is a portmanteau of two Ancient Greek words “lithos” (stone) and “graphein” (to write or draw). Lithography is based on the principle of immiscibility of oil and water. The printing is done from a lithographic limestone or metal plate with a smooth surface. Lithography can be used to inexpensively print text or artwork onto a suitable material such as paper.
3. Linocut
Linocut is a variant of woodcut technique of printmaking. A sheet of linoleum (often mounted on a wooden block) provides the relief surface. Linoleum is a softer material than wood and the printed lines appear smoother and not jagged or sharp like woodcut. Linoleum is easier to carve and the gouged areas acerate negative space, while the uncut areas are inked with the help of rollers, covered with a sheet of paper and pressure is applied by running it through a “press”.
4. Screen Printing
Screen printing gets its name from a mesh or screen used to selectively transfer ink onto a substrate while making some areas impermeable to the ink with the help of a blocking stencil. A blade or squeegee gets moved across the screen to force the ink into the open mesh apertures. A reverse stroke of the blade then makes the screen touch the substrate briefly along a line of contact. As a result of momentary contact, the ink wets the substrate and gets pulled out of the mesh apertures as the screen retracts after the blade has passed. Screen printing can only print one color at a time. Multiple screens are used to produce a multicolored image or layout.
The further back we go, printing technology was more of a manual process. Although many modern printing technologies are available these days, novelty or special projects still make use of these antiquated techniques for a personal touch. In a way, a good quality print is an extension of a printer’s personality and aesthetics.