1.
letterpress; movable type printing; typography
A printing method using raised metal or wooden type pieces that are inked and pressed onto paper, or the type pieces themselves.
A compound of 活 (movable/living) and 版 (printing plate/block). The word is short for 活字版 (movable type printing plate). This technology was revolutionary for mass-producing printed text.
Although largely replaced by offset printing and digital methods for commercial use, letterpress has experienced a revival as a craft. Workshops offering 活版印刷 experiences are popular in Japan, and many stationery enthusiasts seek out letterpress-printed postcards and business cards for their tactile quality — the slight indentation left by the type on paper.