The invention of printing and a practical moveable type is credited to Johann Gutenberg around 1454. This invention earned Gutenberg the title of "father of printing"(Adams 2). The process of printing that Gutenberg invented is relief printing, or printing from a raised surface.

Printing must first start with a sample of what is to be reproduced. With today's technology, this sample, or copy, is almost exclusively created with a computer. While it can be made by hand, a computer is the easiest way to fashion a copy. Specialized software can help in creating a product to be printed. Desktop publishing software brings together many elements that are helpful at doing this. This software works well with type fonts and images and can help integrate them into a pleasant looking sample to be printed. If just text is desired, word processing software can be used to input and edit the transcript. Word processing software can easily check for spelling and grammar errors and can effortlessly change the appearance of the type. Once the desired copy is created, it must then be printed on a computer printer in black and white to be moved onto the next process (Dennis 57).

In the United States today, lithography contributes to over sixty percent of the commercially printed products. As a result of the diversity of the lithographic offset machines and the wide variety of uses of the lithographic process, offset printing will continue to grow. Contributing to this growth is the demand for higher quality printing and more need for printed products. And as this demand increases, sheetfed offset lithographic printing will continue to lead the pack into the future, and remain there for years to come.

Even though this process of printing is no longer commonly used, it is still the foundation of present day offset lithography.

In order for the ink to only be applied to correct area, a thin layer of water must be applied to the plate first. This is done by the dampening system. The water solution, or fountain solution as it is commonly called, that is used in the dampening system consists water and gum arabic. The water fountain stores the excess fountain solution that is not being used. The water fountain roller turns in the water fountain and distributes the dampening solution evenly across the entire dampening system. The ductor roller picks up the water solution from the fountain roller and dispenses it to the distribution rollers. The distribution rollers then supply the plate with the necessary amount of water. The size of the press often influences how many rollers are in the dampening system, but the process is the same, regardless of size (Dennis 346).

There are many adjustments that must be made on a lithography printing press before any printing can be done. In the inking system, the amount of pressure that the form rollers press on the plate must be set by a certified mechanic. The operator must select how much ink is to be put into the press from the ink fountain by setting screws that operate teeth to allow ink to reach the rollers. In the dampening system, the form rollers must again be set to the correct amount of pressure pressing on the plate. The operator can also control how much water is being put into the dampening system by setting how long the ductor roller is in contact with the fountain roller. The printing system has many intricate controls that need to be set by a press mechanic. But the operator also has many controls concerning the printing system. The position of the plate can be moved slightly and angled if the need arises to help straighten the printed image. The pressure that the blanket cylinder presses against the impression cylinder and the paper also must be set. The amount of pressure depends on the thickness of the paper that is being printed. Where the blanket cylinder contacts the paper also can be changed. This setting is referred to as registration. If the image is to high on the printed page, the blanket cylinder needs to moved so that it does not contact the paper as early and therefore results in a lower image. Registration is also controlled by the feeding system. The registration board controls the lateral, or side-to-side movement of the paper and has to be adjus

Some common words found in the essay are:
Ives Company, George Bulwer-Lytton, Alois Senefelder, Johann Gutenberg, impression cylinder, dampening system, printing press, masking sheet, blanket cylinder, sheet paper, Delmar Publishers, feeding system, multicolor presses, inking system, invention printing, Offset Lithography, Foundation Press, water applied plate, paper impression cylinder, plate exposure unit, water solution fountain, York Delmar, word processing software,
Approximate Word count = 3238
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page double spaced)