JOURNALISM 6

PRINTING AND TYPOGRAPHY

- Typography refers to the way letters appear on an object, whether it's a brochure or on
your computer screen. Therefore, print typography is the way letters look when they are
printed.
- Typography is arguably one of the most important elements of your project. The fonts,
colors, and sizes you choose brings your content to life. It should pull the reader in and
make your printed material stand out. It also has the power to convey emotions, build
your brand, and speak directly to the reader.
I. LAYOUT AND TYPOGRAPHY TIPS

1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT FONT - Just like people, fonts have personalities. They each
communicate a specific mood, and you'll want to ensure your font is sending the right
message to the right person.
2. CHOOSE THE RIGHT FONT SIZE - When choosing your font size, you must first
consider the conditions on which the text is read. Also, it's important to remember that a
font of one size might be bigger or smaller than another font of that same size.
3. ADJUST YOUR KERNING - Kerning refers to the spacing between letters. Most people
let the letters appear as typed and roll with it. But in some cases, you may want to bring
letters closer together or space them farther apart to add impact to your message.
4. CHOOSE FONTS THAT PAIR WELL TOGETHER - Some fonts were simply made for
each other. Others look extremely odd when paired together. Don't be afraid to
experiment with different combinations.
5. CONSIDER YOUR ALIGNMENT - Print typography can be aligned in four different
ways: Left, Right, Center, or Justified. Each one has an impact on readability, and it
matters more than you might think. Test different variations to see what works best for
your project.
6. LIMIT THE NUMBER OF FONTS YOU USE - Don’t use different fonts in a page. It is
not pleasing to the eyes.

II. HISTORY OF PRINTING

1. Woodblock Printing - 200AD
- As the name suggests, it involves carving a design into a block of wood. Once the
wood is carved, the raised part is then inked and paper (or fabric, as it was) is
placed on top. The ink is then transferred by applying pressure to the back of the
paper either manually or with a press to create the image. The remaining
woodcuts are used to produce both decorative artwork and lettering.
2. Movable Type – 1041
- Created by Bi Sheng in Song Dynasty China, Movable Type is similar to
Woodcut, although this particular technique was used specifically for printing
script.
- Before Movable Type, lettering had to be written out in full, whereas this
technique allowed individual letters to be configured and placed together in any
order. The tiles or tablets used to create the print were first made from clay, before
wood and metal were introduced for better clarity and a more resilient finish.
3. The First Ever Printing Press – 1440
- Johann Gutenberg is perhaps the most important person to feature in the evolution
of print. He was responsible for the invention of the Printing Press, an innovative
 method that built on techniques such as Movable Type but consolidated them into
one device that could be operated by hand.
- The effects of the first ever Printing Press were huge. It rapidly increased the
speed at which printed materials could be produced, which meant that printed
texts became widely available and were no longer just restricted to the wealthy.
4. Iconic Print Moment - 'The Gutenberg Bible' – 1455
- The very first book to be mass produced was ‘The Gutenberg Bible’ in 1455. The
method used to do so was Moveable Type and around 180 copies were printed.
5. Etching – 1515
- Etching was used in the Middle Ages to decorate metal arms and armour, and later
down the line it was applied to printmaking by the German craftsman Daniel
Hopfer.
- The process involves making prints from a metal plate, which is usually either
copper or zinc. The plate is coated in an acid-resistant substance, commonly
referred to as Etching Ground, before it’s drawn on with a sharp tool. The plate is
then placed in the acid which removes the areas not protected by the Etching
Ground. This creates recessed lines which hold the ink. To finish off, the plate is
placed on paper and sent through a press to create the print.
6. Lithography – 1790s
- The next evolution of print media, Lithography, is a technique which is still
commonly used today.
- It revolves around the relationship between oil and water, which repel each other.
An image is drawn onto limestone with an oil-based medium such as a wax
crayon. The stone is then covered in a solution of Gum Arabic, which is a natural
gum made from the sap of an acacia tree. Using lithographic turpentine, the
solution is then removed which allows the ink to take only where it’s required.
7. The Rotary Press – 1843
- Invented by Richard March Hoe, the Rotary Press was the natural successor of the
Printing Press. It worked by using cylinders which the images to be printed were
curved around. This was a lot faster than the first ever printing press and allowed
for paper to be continuously fed through the press.

8. Offset Printing – 1875

- Although it was developed almost 150 years ago, Offset Printing remains almost
unchanged today and is the most popular way of printing large runs. It works by
transferring the ink from a plate to a rubber blanket and then to the printing
surface.
- It’s commonly used today in combination with the Lithographic process to
produce large runs of magazines, posters and other large format prints.
9. Screen Printing – 1910
- Screen Printing was invented in China during the Song Dynasty between 960 -
1279AD, but it didn’t take off in Europe until the early 1910s when silk stock
became more widely available.
- The technique involves pushing ink through a mesh stencil onto textiles or paper.
It’s a popular technique used often for t-shirt printing.
10. Inkjet Printing – 1951
- Thanks to Inkjet Printing, direct contact with paper is no longer required. Ink can
now be applied by spraying it through jets.
11. Laser Printing – 1969
 - Once jets came into play, the printing field was wide open. Enter Laser Printing.
This advanced method produces high-quality images by passing a laser beam
back and forth over a negatively charged cylinder within the printer. It then
collects electrically charged powdered ink to transfer the image to the paper.
12. Digital Printing – 1991
- In the dawn of the digital age, printing got faster and more easily accessible to
everyone. Digital Printing made it possible to print straight from a digital file –
and all from the comfort of your own home!