Xerography

Xerography is a photocopying technique that was first invented by Chester Carlson, an American physicist who worked in combining photography with electrostatic printing. The word itself stems from the Greek root, xeros (meaning "dry"), and -graphia (meaning "writing). It was one of the first advances in printing that didn't use any liquid chemicals and the technology used in xerography is still used in printing technologies today, which can be seen with digital presses, photocopiers, and laser printers.

The reason why Xerographic documents are such an integral part to the history of printing is partly due to their durability, especially in cases where high-quality paper is being used to print. When high-quality, acid-free paper is used to print, those xerographic documents can last just as long as any handwritten or typewritten copies. However, these documents are susceptible to toner transfer when they are stored closely to plasticizers or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Xerography also played a crucial role in eliminating the hand-inking stage in animation processes and is used to directly image photos in books across the globe <ref> “Xerography.” Wikipedia, 10 Aug. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerography. </ref>.

Overall, Xerography "paved the way first for inexpensive, small-scale printshops, and then for home use", and it was fundamental in inspiring other printing innovations that many use today <ref> Robinson, Solveig C. (2014). The Book In Society: 125 </ref>.

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