Can I Print This?The Printing Industry

Printing HistoryThe first origins of printing were

seals used to “sign” official documents back as early as 255 BC.

Who did this?The Han Dynasty in China

How did they do this?

It certified the authenticity of a document

Why did they do this?

They pressed a ceramic stamp into moist clay.

BONUSWhen was paper invented?Around 105 AD

Unit ObjectivesStudents will understand:1. How printing began2. Basic offset press parts &

operations3. Press room safety4. Advantages & disadvantages of

digital printing

Unit Objectives5. The use & applications for digital

printing6. The main technologies &

equipment used in digital printing

Unit Objectives7. The importance of the commercial

artists understanding the limitations of offset & digital printing

8. The different applications of web & offset printing.

The Ultimate GoalPrinting 1 color notepads on the 1

color press.

Printing has undergone several changes through the years.

Early methods of graphic communications has been found in pictographs, ideographs, and phonetic symbols.

Pictographs are drawings that carry meaning because they look like the real object. An example of this are early cave paintings.

Ideographs arte drawings which symbolized an idea or concept rather than an object. Chinese writing is an example of this.

Phonetic symbols, which are what our modern day alphabet is derived from, are symbols that represent sound. When these symbols are combined properly, words are produced.

Scribes and PrintingAfter the invention of the alphabet,

books naturally were developed.

Scribes were responsible for copying every word & every page in a book.

Gutenberg & a Wine PressIn the mid 15th century moveable

type was introduced. Johann Gutenberg created the very first printing press from an old wine press. This allowed for the mass book production to be done quickly. Scribes couldn’t copy the books fast enough.

Printing TodayPrinting technology has come a long

way since then.

When we refer to printing, we’re talking about a process of manufacturing multiple copies of graphic images.

5 major printing processes Relief Intaglio (Gravure) Screen Lithographic Electrostatic

Relief printing is producing an image from a raised surface.

Intaglio images are transferred from a sunken surface. The industrial name for this is Gravure.

Screen printing transfers an image by allowing ink to pass through openings in a stencil that has been applied to a screen mesh.

A lithographic image is produced from a flat surface.

Electrostatic printing involves creating an image by electrostatically charging areas of a special drum. As a result, the drum attracts a dry or liquid toner & the toner is fused to the paper.

Printing cycle1. Identify a need2. Create an image3. Reproducing the image4. Distributing the printed image

Steps in the printing process

1. Image design2. Image generation3. Image conversion4. Image assembly5. Image carrier preparation6. Image transfer7. Finishing

Project TimeFollow the directions and create your

own relief print.