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Introduction to Publishing

A brief history of Publishing Prehistoric Era It is known that our great forefathers used to write on walls of stone to record experiences and ideas. Many sketches were found in ancient caves where our great great grandparents are believed to have lived long before anybody attempted writing history. Assyrian and Babylonian Periods In these periods, people used symbols known as cuneiform symbols for writing. Cuneiform symbols were chiseled or engraved on baked stone or clay. Egypts Contribution The people of Nile developed another kind of writing called hieroglyphics , which are found inside and outside of the great pyramids of Egypt. Phoenicians At around 200 BC, the Phoenicians invented the alphabet that we use today. Chinese contribution During the 2nd century AD, the Chinese began carving religious texts on stone, inking the raised surfaces and taking impressions. The carved wooden block called the block printing, uses ink that spreads evenly on metal or wood and transfers evenly on paper. Tsai Lun invented paper about 105 AD. Publishing Techniques through the years Publishing is the activity that involves a selection of preparation and marketing of printed matter. Refers to the preparation and distribution of written material for public use. As it is known today depends on a series of 3 major inventions: Writing Paper Printing

Printing The art and technology of reproducing words and pictures on paper, cloth, or other surfaces. Gutenbergs Contribution By the beginning of the 15th century, all the technology needed for the development of printing was available. Johannes Gutenberg of Mainz Germany Emerged as the person who was able to put together all the works of his predecessors. He invented the first cast movable pieces of type called the Movable Type. Handsetting printing was done by aligning or setting individual pieces of lead with raised letters in a straight line to form words and lines of type. These groups of arranged lead would be applied with ink and paper and is pressed to make a printed output. Emergence of Modern Printing A series of inventions in the 18 th century spurred. Friedrich Konig developed the first workable cylinder press in 1810. Konig Press offered a major innovation it was the first to use a heavy rotating cylinder to apply pressure to type on a flat bed. The cylinder increased the speed of the printing process to about 1,100 sheets per hour. Richard Hoe American who created the first operational Rotary press in 1846. It was made up of rotating cylinders of running paper surrounding the central one.

CUNEIFORM SYMBOLS

HIEROGLYPHICS

PHOENICIAN ALPHABET

BLOCK PRINTING

MOVABLE TYPE BY JOHANNES GUTENBERG

CYLINDER PRESS BY FRIEDRICH KONIG

ROTARY PRESS BY RICHARD HOE

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