Usage of ink in the future of printing

Usage of ink in the future of printing

Introduction

The process of reproducing images and texts using ink on a paper is known as printing. It is one of the most important discoveries that the Chinese made back in prehistoric times. The Chinese have five inventions that they consider sacred and believe to have played a significant role in the progression of the world as it is today. Printing is one of those five inventions. The first forms of printing were done on Papyrus paper, coconut shells and wooden barks and blocks. This was called block printing. Another popular method of printing was the stone printing in which slabs of stone were used as the carrier of the prints. Then the Chinese invented paper and the world has never been the same again. There is no organization today that does not use paper. Paperwork has become an integral part of the way this world operates. Paper is used to record, note and store data regarding anything and everything. The success behind many great inventions, ideas, notions, revolutions and publishing would not have been possible if printing had not been invented.

In Mesopotamia, long before the world had civilized, cylinder seals were used to note and record data. This method dates back to 3500 BC and more. The Chinese invented block printing in approx 220 AD followed by the invention of English alphabets by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century.

As seen across the timeline of history, printing is a process that has constantly evolved and grown to meet the technological advancements of the world. Using ink and paper has been the most prominent form of printing for centuries but now the world is again going through revolutionary advancements. With the rise of touchscreen technologies and paper-free environments and the era of digitalization, it is possible that the use of ink in printing may soon become obsolete. Already, millions of people are showing interest in technologies such as the Kindle and e-books which allows users to read books and other material on a digital tablet or their cell phones. Many publishers are now choosing to publish their material online and as e-books rather than paperback novels. The reason is that users consider digital printing and publishing to be cheaper and much more environmental friendly.

Another aspect to consider for this paper is 3D printing which involves the use of digital imagery to manufacture a 3D object (Create It Real, 2011). This can be done by two methods: additive processes and subtractive processes. This process uses a materials printer rather than a normal printer with ink (Wohlers, 2009, P 72).

Working title

The working title for this paper that cumulates the central idea of the paper is: 'Would the printing industry stop using ink in the future?'

Aims of the research

To analyse the future of ink in the printing industry

To identify upcoming trends and technological advancements that may render the use of ink obsolete

To determine if the use of ink in the printing industry ...