{"id":1733,"date":"2024-12-12T16:27:36","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T21:27:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/makerspace\/?p=1733"},"modified":"2026-02-11T18:14:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T23:14:49","slug":"reviving-an-ancient-way-of-printing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/makerspace\/projects\/reviving-an-ancient-way-of-printing\/","title":{"rendered":"Reviving an Ancient Way of Printing"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is this Block?<\/h2>\n
\"Tibetan<\/a>

Tibetan printing block 3D printed using PLA filament<\/p><\/div>\n

The Tibetan wooden printing block<\/strong> at the heart of this project is a rare artifact estimated to be 100-200 years old, historically used to create prayer flags. Printing blocks represent one of the most significant innovations of the Tang (618\u2013906) and Song (960\u20131279) dynasties, revolutionizing knowledge-sharing by enabling the mass publication of texts and enhancing literacy (Asian Art Museum, n.d.<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

This block was part of a large group of printing blocks that was acquired at auction from the estate of Philip Gould, who was a professor of Art History at Sarah Lawrence before his retirement in 1993. The existing information about the block is based on comparative research and conversations with faculty colleagues who have expertise in the history of the book in the Himalayas. Professor Xiaotian Yin, an art historian specializing in the art of Inner Asia and China wrote:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe motif at the center visualizes the seed syllable of the Kalachakra system in Tibetan Buddhism, surrounded by the Tibetan transliteration of a Sanskrit Mantra.\u201d The four mystical animals\u2014Lion (seng), Tiger (stag), Garuda (khung), and Dragon (\u2019brug)\u2014adorn its corners, reaffirming the block’s spiritual significance.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Why is it Substantive to Replicate this Block?<\/h2>\n

These historical artifacts are too delicate to use in practical demonstrations. Anne Peale, the Chapin Librarian for the Sawyer Special Collections, would like to create replica of the printing blocks to demonstrate how these would be used. A replica would allow the library to safely make many prints, using a variety of print materials, without worrying about damaging the original blocks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anne Peale is also the professor of ASIA 325: The Arts of the Book in Asia<\/a> <\/strong>for Spring 2025. I asked her about the importance of replicating the printing block and she responded:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPrinting blocks carry the history of how they\u2019ve been used in the ink traces on their surface. Moreover, some blocks become damaged or fragile over time, and we need to ensure that the blocks remain available for future generations of Williams students.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There are a few features of the printing block that must be preserved. Preservation is a meticulous process, prioritizing the smoothness of the printable surface, the clarity of the text, and the precision of the carved motifs.<\/span><\/p>\n

3D Scanning with CR-Scan Raptor<\/h2>\n

The<\/span> CR-Scan Raptor<\/strong><\/a> is a 3D scanner with metrology-grade accuracy, with a maximum accuracy of 0.02mm. Using a blue parallel 7-line laser and a 2.3-megapixel high-resolution camera for scanning, it produces rich details, sharp edges, and restores the 3D shape of the object accurately (Creality<\/a>, 2024<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Scan Configuration<\/strong><\/p>\n