For centuries, booklets have been the way of conveying messages and stories to the people. At the core of this process lies a fundamental question; how did the booklet journey from its ancient manuscript handwritten form to today’s state of the art digital printing press? In our next posts, we continue to follow the evolution of the technology in booklet printing, as well as how Moore Graphics employs modern approaches to answer every booklet printing requirement you have.
Ancient Scribes and Manuscripts
As we knew the printing press was not invented at the beginning, the work of preparing written products was extremely demanding. They were responsible for writing by hand or copying books and documents from one manuscript onto another, on scrolls, parchment, vellum, and paper made from plant material. This astonishingly lengthy process invariably meant books were scarce, costly and therefore exclusively for the few who could afford them. Communication through the written word was extremely limited and ideas could not spread as easily as they do in the present society.
Newspaper Printing Revolution – Gutenberg’s Press
Still, there was another great advancement in broadcasting printed information in the 15th century with the invention of the Gutenberg movable type printing. This first moving type printer enabled parts of texts – letters, symbols, spaces, and punctuations – to be set, printed, and reused on subsequent pages.
This system of movable metal alloy types transformed manuscript copying, a slow process of copywork, to a mechanical method. It enabled a single printer to print hundreds or possibly thousands of copies of a particular publication within a short span of time as compared to what scriptures were capable of doing by hand.
While it was conceived in its rudimentary form several centuries before, Gutenberg made the movable type printing technology popular. The speeding up and amplification of the printed materials played a crucial role for the further spread of information during the period of expansion of the Renaissance all over Europe.
Effects of the Industrial Revolution and the invention of printing presses on society
Another breakthrough came with the appearance of steam powered printing presses during the Industrial Revolution in the late 1700s and early 1800s which enabled cheap, high volume printing. The printing technology advanced and printing presses were made mechanical to enable thousands of sheets to be printed in a single day.
This made them more readily available to the common populace since there was now mass production of all sorts of printed materials inclusive of books and newspapers. The absence of the barriers in the dissemination of information contributed to the increased social cohesion as well as the sharing of knowledge.
The history of booklet printing could be dated back to the 19th century
While books, newspapers and posters were becoming more popular because of the efficient printing presses, the creation of professional looking booklets remained something of a challenge. Conventional and simple booklets produced by the early amateurs include those on basic pamphlets and folded sheets that are fastened with stitches or staples.
But in the late 1800s the introduction of specialist “jobbing” platen printing presses opened new opportunities for producing jobbing booklets. These small printing units provided a shorter run, cheaper and more personalized multi-page printing options for ink, binding, and papers for the businesses and other people.
The Arrival of The Modern Booklet
Some developments that were realized in the early to mid twentieth century added to the advancement of booklet making. Innovative technology of offset lithography printing emerged with better quality of printing, color graphics at a low price. Binding of booklets became easier and mechanized binding machines allowed professional spines and finishing of mass produced booklets. Improvements in paper making led to improved value paper stock options that were tailored to meet the market needs.
These improvements also meant that visually appealing, glossy booklets and catalogs could be printed easily and economically – be it in small quantities or large ones. This paved the way for development of the modern booklet which is in use by businesses and organizations all over the world today.
Booklet Printing Using Digital Press
This is the most recent step in the process of professional booklet production in the 21 st century – digital printing. Just as we previously enhanced communication through the development of computers, digital presses are changing the process of print. The company specializes in the field of graphics and digital printing and it has earned its place as an industry pioneer. These are our best digital presses, which are intended for on-demand and variable data printing as the current booklet production requires.
We can print high quality color booklets and manuals in record speeds with completely customized elements like: We can print high quality color booklets and manuals in record speeds with completely customized elements like:
- Custom pagination – Were you given a 16 page booklet or a 100 page catalog?
- This means that each of the booklets needs to be personalized – targeted at specific areas or individuals.
- Variable web page layout – add or modify pictures, and text, on each webpage
- Cover – select from glossy, matte or abnormally dense cover stock
- Flexible sizes – It allows the use of different page sizes if one size is not sufficient for a publication.
- Quick turnaround – Receive your order within the shortest time possible, within a day if necessary.
This means that we are capable of creating professional booklets from scratch to match your specific business requirement at your own convenient time. We pride ourselves in offering our clients the most comprehensive digital press services and professional employees that can handle any task, regardless of its size or complexity.
Future of Booklet Printing
Indeed, booklets have evolved from papyrus scrolls to paper printouts to downloadable PDF files. As we progress in the year ahead, technology will go on to advance more and more the print solutions present, however, the demand for high quality booklet printing remains constant. This cannot be compared with the tact felt on printed material such as brochures and fliers that communicate professionalism and reliability in a manner that digital does not.
And with such trends as sustainability and purchasing products from locally-owned businesses, print booklets can be used by companies to demonstrate their support in these aspects. To ensure it provides the benefits above to clients, Moore Graphics has to embrace new trends in print technology to offer superior booklet printing. Come to us today and let us show you the possibilities of advanced booklet printing and your vision in practice!
