Printing has long been associated with books and magazines, but it also extends to financial instruments, textiles, and more. It has also spawned numerous rival techniques. Some of the most common examples of printing are books and magazines, postcards, postage stamps, and maps. And while some of these processes may seem archaic, they actually do a great deal of good for the world.
Printing has played an important role in the spread of ideas and the transformation of societies. From the earliest times, printing was a labor-intensive process. The invention of movable type, which facilitated a variety of printing processes, spurred scholarly pursuits in Song China. Despite its impact on the world, it was not widely used in China until European-style printing presses were introduced, and only in recent centuries has it become widespread.
Printing originated in China and spread throughout East Asia. Originally, woodblock printing was used to print on textiles, but later expanded to paper as well. Some of the oldest known printed works were made using this technique. China produced its first book in 868 using this method, and by the ninth century, a series of 130 volumes of Chinese classics was created under the initiative of a Chinese minister, Fong Tao.
Printing techniques were once limited to copying texts and images. Today, there are many methods and techniques used to reproduce texts and illustrations, and the term “printing” can be used to describe any technique used to produce them. Modern processes do not rely on the mechanical and material concept of pressure, and may eventually replace traditional methods.