Today, in the times of digital media and information technology, the importance of print media is the same as in previous years. It may be the convenience of reading something anytime you want that keeps print copies more popular. Even in our offices, where most business and information exchange takes place over the Internet, items such as laser tone cartridges and bulk ink are still a very important part of office supplies. It seems that nothing is going to replace print media. While the use of print and print media seems to have no end even in the future, one is really curious about the history of these media. Let’s go back in time and trace man’s first successful printing effort.

Many historians trace the story back to the Mesopotamian era of around 3000 BC, but there is little evidence to prove it. However, the first actual record is known to be of block prints used around AD 200 in China. Initially it was used to print on clothes. As the use of paper became common in China and East Asia, the same technique was used on paper as well. Almost two centuries later, the Romans also used the same printing techniques on both paper and clothing. The first example of a complete printed compilation along with illustrations is the Tiananmen Scrolls. It was printed in China in AD 868. In Korea, the same block technique was further improved by using metal instead of wood.

Later, during the 9th and 10th centuries, the same technique was used on clay, wood, metal, stone, and even glass in the Middle East. The Arabs and Egyptians used the technique to print prayer books and amulets. With the Arab invasion of Europe and Central Asia, this technique also traveled. However, also in Europe it was used to print banners and religious scrolls mainly on cloth.

As this technique was taking over the world, the Chinese invented another technique in 1040AD. This was the printing of moving objects. The basic technique was still the block method, but the components were really mobile. The first example of a book printed with this method is a Korean book, ‘Jijki’. It took a lot of effort to move the tablets.

During 1843, an American inventor, Richard March Hole, introduced a new technique. In this technique, the image or text to be printed is wrapped around a cylinder which is then pressed or rolled onto the substrates. With few improvements made over time, hers remained a very popular printing technique around the world.

Later, offset printing was invented during 1875. The technique was initially developed to print on tin, but has now become the most common type of printing used for paper. Although good for large-scale printing purposes, increasing daily printing requirements lead to the development of the newest printing technique, laser printing. It’s fast and convenient, and the equipment isn’t too heavy or bulky. This is the technique on which home and office printers are based.