Woodblock printing originated in Asia and was the earliest technique, using carved wood blocks to transfer ink in a reverse image onto paper. Stenciling evolved to use screens to support ink-blocking patterns. The printing press was developed in Europe to meet demand for books, using movable type set into pages that could be printed repeatedly. Lithography, using the reaction of oil-based inks to water, allowed for mass printing of materials. Modern printing technologies included photocopiers in the 1960s, laser printers invented in 1969, dot matrix printers using print heads, and inkjet printers that propel ink droplets onto paper.

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A report about:
Printing technologies
throughout time
By: Kholoud Basem Mohamed
Group: B
Section:13
Student no.: 20

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 Woodblock printing
Origin:
Itis clear that woodblock printing developed in Asia several
centuries beforeEurope. The Chinese were the first to use
the process to print solid text.
Technique:
The wood block is carefully carved as a pattern, which
means the areas to show 'white' are cut away leaving
the characters or image to show in 'black' at the original
surfacelevel. The block was cut along the grain of the
wood. Itis necessary only to ink the block and bring it
into firm and even contact with the paper or cloth to
achieve an acceptable print. The content would of courseprint "in reverse" or mirror-
image.
 Stencil
Technique:
Producing an image or pattern by
applying pigment to a surfaceover an
intermediate object with designed gaps in it which create the pattern or image by only
allowing the pigment to reach someparts of the surface.
As an evolution for stencil came up Screen-printing (1907)
Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to supportan ink-blocking
stencil to receive a desired image.

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 Printing press
Origin:
The rapid economic and socio-culturaldevelopment
of late medieval society in Europe and The sharp rise
of learning and illiteracy amongstthe middle class led
to an increased demand for books, which the time-
consuming hand-copying method fell far shortof
accommodating.
Rotary printing press
A rotary printing press is a printing press in which the
impressions arecarved around a cylinder so that the
printing can be done on long continuous rolls of paper, cardboard, plastic, or a large
number of other substrates.
 Lithography (1796)
Lithography is a printing process that uses chemical properties of materials to create an
image.
Technique:
the positivepart of an image would be a hydrophobic
chemical, while the negative image would be water. Thus,
when the plate is introduced to a compatible ink and
water mixture, the ink will adhere to the positive image
and the water will clean the negative image. This allows
for a relatively flat print plate.
Nowadays:
High-volumelithography is used today to produce
posters, maps, books, newspapers, and packaging
justabout any smooth, mass-produced itemwith
print and graphics on it. Mostbooks, indeed all
types of high-volumetext, are now printed using
offsetlithography.

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 Flexography
printing process which utilizes a flexible relief plate. Itis essentially a modern version of
letterpress which can be used for printing on almost any
type of substrate, including plastic, metallic films,
cellophane, and paper. Itis widely used for printing on
the non-porous substrates required for various types of
food packaging (it is also well suited for printing large
areas of solid color).
 Photocopier (1960s)
Xerographic office photocopying was introduced by Xerox in
the 1960s, and over thefollowing 20 years it gradually
replaced copies made by Verifax, Photostat, carbon paper,
mimeograph machines, and other duplicating machines.

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 Laser printer (1969)
The laser printer, based on a modified xerographic copier, was invented at Xerox in 1969 by
researcher Gary Starkweather, who had a fully functionalnetworked printer system
working by 1971.
 Dot matrix printer (1970)
It printer refers to a type of computer
printer with a print head that runs back
and forth on the page and prints by
impact, striking an ink-soaked cloth
ribbon against the paper, much like a
typewriter.
 Inkjet printer
Inkjetprinters area type of computer
printer that operates by propelling tiny
droplets of liquid ink onto paper.