Low-Techification: A Printer Concept Inspired by the Printing Press

If you need to print a document or an image, all that you need to do is select the image or the document and click print. The digital printer takes care of the rest and in no time, you have a freshly printed document or image.

The evolution of the printer from analog to digital has infinitely increased the speed of printing. With the modern digital printing device, each one of us has a printer in our own right. It has also made the whole process an impersonal experience: just click and print.

There was a time when printing was considered an art form. A person operating a printer would pay a lot of attention to the placement and design of movably types. The legendary 42-line Bible or the Gutenberg Bible, with its artistic and aesthetic qualities, is a very good example of how printing was used as an art form.

To bring back the golden age of printing, designer Zachary Robinson has conceptualized a new age printing device that would transform the average printer back into artists again. Inspiration for the concept was born out of the writer’s belief that the digital printer has conveniently left out the most important aspect of the printing process: the human role.  The concept is aptly titled ‘Low-Techification’.

Right from the birth of the printing press, human hands have played a pivotal and artistic role on the printing process. With the new generation iPhones and iPads bringing the ‘touch’ of our hands back into focus, Low-Techification is a concept that will appeal to the touch generation. The new age printing concept is based on an old school design.

Low-Techification is a printer that has two components: a flat monitor and a transparent screen ‘press’.  The transparent screen press is attached on top of the monitor.

In order to print an image or document, the user would need to upload it on the flat monitor. Next, a printing paper would be attached on the monitor and below the transparent screen. The user would then slide the transparent screen on top of the paper and would gently press the screen. This would activate the printing mechanism and the image would be printed on the paper.

Low-Techification, with its printing press inspired design puts the control of printing back in our hands. This would not only improve the aesthetic and artistic quality of our prints, but would also make printing a more interactive process.

You can also take a look at MIT Digital Food Printer and Instant Cartridge Printer Design to learn more about such gadgets.