LO1: The Timeline



Woodblock printing 220 CE
Contain printing text, patterns and images. It was invented in China as a method of printing on textiles and later on paper.

1040
Movable type is the system of printing and typography using movable pieces of metal type, made by casting from matrices struck by letter punches.

The rotary printing press was originated in 1843 by
Richard March Hoe. It uses impressions curved around a cylinder to print on long continuous rolls of paper or other substrates. Rotary drum printing was later significantly improved by William Bullock.

Offset printing is a widely used printing technique where the inked image is transferred (or "offset") from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface.

Gravure printing is an intaglio printing technique, where the image to be printed is made up of small depressions in the surface of the printing plate. Gravure printing is used for long, high-quality print runs such as magazines, mail-order catalogues, packaging, and printing onto fabric and wallpaper. It is also used for printing postage stamps and decorative plastic laminates, such as kitchen worktops.

Professional digital printing (using toner) primarily uses an electrical charge to transfer toner or liquid ink to the substrate it is printed on. Digital print quality has steadily improved from early colour and black & white copiers to sophisticated colour digital presses.