What was the Gutenberg process?

What was the Gutenberg process?

Once Gutenberg decided to make metal type, he began to search for the right metal. He finally settled on a mixture of lead and tin, an alloy that is easy to melt and cast, but which retains its shape under pressure. He also devised a method of making metal molds.

First, the letter was carefully cut, shaped, and polished on the end of a copper or iron rod. Next, this was hammered into a soft metal, probably lead, where it left a negative impression. Then, the alloy for the type itself was melted and poured into the mold.

Besides this, Gutenberg also designed a tray into which the individual letters ware assembled as words and clamped into place. The tray was set into a hand press, inked, and squeezed down on the sheet of paper. We can see that Gutenberg did not invent just a method of making movable type. He devised the entire process of printing from the type-casting and the mixing of the ink to the final steps of typesetting and stamping. Like all other basic inventions, it was revolutionary. Many copies could be made in a short time and then the same type could be remove and reassembled for another printing.

“The printing press developed from wine making press. The inked type faced upwards and paper pressed down on to it”