Abstract: From the viewpoint of pure technology,printing can be defined as an additive process in which the intended contents or information are rendered on suitable substrate by selectively applying materials,and is within the scope of additive and area processing (or parallel processing) technology,characterized by high spacial resolution,throughput and low cost.Because of these features,printing is the important carrier which has created the modern civilization and has been the most important and long live media technology in the history of human being’s civilization as well.Today,it has found wide applications in areas such as surface finishing,printed electronics,super-large scale integrated circuit manufacturing,too.When judged as a media technology,visualization is believed the core role and function of printing.Putting colorant or ink on paper has been and will continue to be the key of the process.But in the areas of surface finishing or printed electronics,selectively applying specific functional elements,e.g.,protective,decorative,electronic,optoelectronic or other functions,onto suitable substrate is anticipated instead,in order to satisfy the requirements of end applications.In the area of super-large scale integrated circuit manufacturing,the significance of printing is manifested by its capability of creating micrometer or nanometer structures.This paper is intended to cast light over these aspects while progressing overview on the evolution of printing technology over the past thousands years and its tends in future.

Key words: printing technology, communication media, printed electronics, micro surface manufacturing, nano-imprint lithography