Imprenta

THE PRINTING

The press is a mechanical reproduction of text and images on paper or similar materials, which comprises applying an ink, usually oily, on metal pieces (types) for transfer to the paper by pressure. Although it began as a traditional method, was the first cultural revolution.

The printing concept is broader because it represents the evolution of various technologies that todaymake it possible through multiple methods of printing and reproduction. As flexography, screen printing, gravure, high etching, electrolytic photography, photolithography, lithography, offset printing, xerography and current digital methods.
The Romans had stamps printed sheets of clay inscriptions on objects around the year 440 a. C. and 430 a. C. Between 1041 and 1048, Bi Sheng invented inChina, where there was already a type of rice paper-the first system of movable type, based on complex pieces of porcelain that were carved in Chinese characters, this was a complex procedure for the vast number of characters that were needed to Chinese writing. In 1234 artisans Koryo kingdom (now Korea), connoisseurs of Chinese progress with movable type, created a set of movable metal type thatanticipated the modern printing press, but used it raramente.2 However, modern printing not created until about the year 1440, with the help of Johannes Gutenberg.

In Europe, many people and people pretended to be part of this art, although opinions are that was the German Johannes Gutenberg, who had the ideas and initiative to join a team of printers, which supports him as the inventor oftypography. There is documentation that subsequent credited with inventing though, curiously, not named in any printed Gutenberg known.

Given the controversial history appeared to dispute the glory of the "Father of Printing" Mentelin German names, printer in Strasbourg (1410-1478), the Italian Panfilo Castaldi, typographer doctor and then in 1470, another Italian named Aldus, Lorenzo de Coster, ofHaarlem (Netherlands) (1370-1430). Each has a monument in their respective localities, but definitely lost the lawsuit Mentelin supporters and Castaldi.

An edition dating from 1502 in Mainz, Germany, printed by Peter Schöffer, successor to the press that in the past belonged to Gutenberg, says:

... This book was printed in Mainz, a city where the admirable art of typography was invented in 1450by Johannes Gutenberg witty and then perfected at the expense and work of Johann Fust and Peter Schöffer ... among others ...
Until 1450 and even in later years, the books were disseminated in manuscript copies by writers, many of whom were monks and friars dedicated to prayer and to order copies replica's own clergy or of kings and nobles. Despite popular belief, not all monks were literatescribes. Performing the function of copyists, imitators of signs that often did not understand, which was essential for copying banned books that speak of internal medicine or sex. [Citation needed] The illustrations and capital letters were decorative and artistic product itself copyist, that decorated each copy that performed according to your taste or vision. Each of his works could last up to tenyears.
In the Middle Ages used the woodcut in Europe to publish pamphlets or political advertising, labels, and leaves few works by testing it in the text are working on a hollow wooden tablet, including the drawings, a hard-working craft . Once drawn up, was coupled to a desk, also of wood, impregnated ink and black, blue or red (there were only these colors). After the paper was applied andfixed to the ink roller. The wear of the wood was so significant that they could not make many copies of the same mold. This type of printing is called engraving.
Each printer manufactured its own role, stamping a watermark signature as a printer. For these watermarks is why his works are known.
In this environment, Gutenberg gambled that he could do both a copy of the Bible in less than half...