The printing press was invented in Germany in the 1440’s by a man named Johannes Gutenberg.  Gutenberg was a goldsmith as well as a printer, and his method of printing and reproducing text and graphics on paper would spread throughout Europe very quickly as well as across the globe.  Gutenberg is the printer of the world famous Gutenberg Bible.  The first step to printing using a printing press is to create print blocks of letters and pictures.  These blocks are made from molds, and typically metal alloys such as lead and tin were used to make them.  In Asia, materials such as clay or wood were used more often than metal.  Oil-based ink was then used and applied to the blocks once they were placed properly in order.  The printing press used force to push down the printer ink covered carved or molded blocks onto the paper, creating identical reproductions each time.

Many credit the printing press with helping to establish concepts such as a standardized alphabet.  It helped authors make a name for themselves.  The concept of indexes, table of contents, and page numbering were also credited to the invention and use of the printing press.  Book printing using a printing press was considered a real art form, and originally printed books are worth a lot of money today.  Over time, the printing press adapted itself to the growing needs of people everywhere who wanted to obtain the printed word in book or pamphlet form.  Some printers still use this method today to print items.  Eventually newer method began to take over, such as the steam powered printing press, the rotary press, offset printing, and of course, today’s modern computerized desktop publishing. Nonetheless, the invention of the printing press paved the way for authors and publishers all over the world to help make their works known to millions of people.