Buchdruck

Buchdruck, or book printing, is the process of reproducing texts and images from inked movable-type blocks onto paper. It is considered one of the key technologies of the second millennium that enabled the mass production of books and the rapid dissemination of knowledge.

While woodblock printing had existed in Asia for centuries, movable type was developed in Europe in the mid-15th century by Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz. Building on earlier experiments with movable type in Asia, Gutenberg combined metal type, oil-based ink, and a mechanical press to facilitate repeated impressions. The Gutenberg Bible, completed around 1455, is often cited as the first major book produced with movable type in the Western world.

Technique: Letters cast in metal are arranged into pages (typesetting), inked, and pressed onto paper by a platen press. After printing, sheets are folded, gathered into signatures, and bound into volumes. The method allowed far greater speed and consistency than hand copying.

Impact: The technology spurred the spread of literacy, facilitated the standardization of languages and texts, and accelerated scientific and cultural exchange. It contributed to the diversification of available literature and the Protestant Reformation, as well as the growth of urban economies centered on printing.

Evolution: In the 19th century, steam-powered presses and mechanization increased output. Lithography, offset printing, and later digital prepress and printing technologies transformed the industry. Today, book printing combines traditional processes with digital workflows and print-on-demand capabilities, enabling customized and widely accessible publications.