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Written word has been one of the finest human skills since oldest of ages. Scribes and monks have multiplied valuable manuscripts for centuries by copying them on papyrus, wood, silk or pergament. The best amongst them have mastered the fascinating calligraphic abilities, and their apprentices have decorated the scriptures with illustrations, details drawn with paints made from natural pigments or melted gold or silver.

Hardly acquired, written or copied knowledges were guarded hidden from the eyes of the common men, accessible only to members of higher society - nobles, monks, noble citizens.

With the invention of press, waste quantities of knowledge suddenly became available to masses, because multiplication went cheaper. Printing has started to accelerate the progress by inheriting the precision of manual multiplication, because it was the only way the invention could be 'sold'. The written word started spreading faster, bringing the formerly hidden knowledges of the world along. Master-printers and their apprentices were highly sought after, and the mastership was measured by nice and neat typography, fascinating black-and-white or colour illustrations, precise and long-lasting luxurious binding, with covers often enriched with details made of pure silver or gold.

In time, photographs could also be reproduced, and simple hardly-recognizable portraits on 'Wanted for Horse Theft' ads or newspaper photos were gradually replaced by more or less accurate reproductions of painter's masterpieces. Some of them (Henry de Toulouse-Lautrec, French painter, one of the founders of a modern poster) have even accepted printing as one of their media of expression through history. Years pass by, printing becomes cheaper and of higher quality, being the miracle of evolution after the first Guttenberg's press. Industry takes the printing over from master-printers and their manufactures, and finances it's further development with capital fundings.

The abilities of printing grow with computers entering the printing business, but the quality actually gets - decreased. Suddenly everyone's 'in the business' love it or not, everything gets printed by everyone and printed materials grow shapeless and less fascinating. The sole technology and it's abilities are impressive, but print and prepress quality appear lower and lower.

Observing the trends in world printing, one could notice a substantial growth of demands for quality in the last few years, and high quality print manufacturers are highly acclaimed again. The standards are rising back.