A Lesson in Letterpress

Here is an article that gives a very good history of letterpress printing. Letterpress 101 offers a video demo of the letterpress printing process and an essay that reviews the history of printing—starting with the Gutenberg press. As you read the article you will definitely recognize a few familiar names. Are you surprised that a press as primitive as the letterpress is still used? Considering what we’ve learned so far, what type of projects would this press be best suited?

Why is the Invention of the Gutenberg Press So Significant?

Before the Gutenberg press, books were written by hand, by scribes. With this type of process, creating a book was obviously a slow and tedious production. Gutenberg’s press signifies the beginning of mass reproduction. But why is it so important to graphic communications and the way society communicates today?

Take look at this short video I found on YouTube. After viewing the video, what are your thoughts?