Editing Printing press (section)

== Gutenberg's press ==
{{See also|Letterpress printing}}
[[File:Printing and writing materials - their evolution (1904) (14777458662).jpg|thumb|Johannes Gutenberg, 1904 reconstruction]]
[[Johannes Gutenberg]]'s work on the printing press began in approximately 1436 when he partnered with Andreas Dritzehn—a man who had previously instructed in [[Lapidary|gem-cutting]]—and Andreas Heilmann, owner of a paper mill.<ref name="meggs58-69"/> However, it was not until a 1439 [[lawsuit]] against Gutenberg that an official record existed; witnesses' testimony discussed Gutenberg's types, an inventory of metals (including lead), and his type molds.<ref name="meggs58-69"/>

Having previously worked as a professional goldsmith, Gutenberg made skillful use of the knowledge of metals he had learned as a craftsman. He was the first to make type from an [[alloy]] of [[lead]], [[tin]], and [[antimony]], which was critical for producing durable type that produced high-quality printed books and proved to be much better suited for printing than all other known materials. To create these lead types, Gutenberg used what is considered one of his most ingenious inventions,<ref name="meggs58-69">Meggs, Philip B. A History of Graphic Design. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1998. (pp 58–69) {{ISBN|0-471-29198-6}}</ref> a special [[Matrix (printing)|matrix]] enabling the quick and precise molding of new type blocks from a uniform template. His [[type case]] is estimated to have contained around 290 separate letter boxes, most of which were required for special characters, [[typographic ligature|ligatures]], [[punctuation marks]], and so forth.<ref>{{harvnb|Mahnke|2009|p=290}}</ref>

Gutenberg is also credited with the introduction of an oil-based [[ink]] which was more durable than the previously used water-based inks. As printing material he used both paper and [[vellum]] (high-quality parchment). In the [[Gutenberg Bible]], Gutenberg made a trial of colour printing for a few of the page headings, present only in some copies.<ref>{{harvnb|Kapr|1996|p=172}}</ref> A later work, the [[Mainz Psalter]] of 1453, presumably designed by Gutenberg but published under the imprint of his successors [[Johann Fust]] and [[Peter Schöffer]], had elaborate red and blue printed initials.<ref>{{harvnb|Kapr|1996|p=203}}</ref>