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How to Draw a Printing Press

13 steps · Medium · about 10 min

Draw a printing press in 13 easy steps, about 10 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.

Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: two posts.

Step 1: Two posts
Draw 2 tall thin boxes, one on each side of your paper, for the wooden posts.
Tip A printing press squeezes inky letters onto paper. It made the first printed books.
Step 2: Top beam
Across the tops of the posts draw a long thick bar. Let it stick out a little past each post.
Step 3: Feet and floor
Under each post draw a short flat foot, wider than the post. Draw a floor line under both feet.
Step 4: The big screw
From the middle of the top beam draw a thick bar straight down. Add 5 slanted lines across it.
Tip Turning the screw pushes the plate down, like closing a giant bottle top.
Step 5: Block and handle
Under the screw draw a small block. Add a short bar with a round knob on each side.
Tip The printer pulls this handle to turn the screw.
Step 6: Pressing plate
Under the block draw a wide flat slab. This plate presses down on the paper.
Step 7: Sheet of paper
Under the middle of the plate draw a tall box hanging down, for a sheet of paper.
Tip Stop the paper a little above the floor.
Step 8: The table
Right under the plate, draw a flat bar from each post to the paper, for the table.
Tip The plate squeezes the paper against this table.
Step 9: Printed page
On the paper draw a big letter A. Add 2 short lines under it for printed words.
Step 10: Grey screw
Colour the screw, the block and the 2 handle bars grey. Leave the paper white.
Step 11: Wooden posts
Colour the 2 tall posts light brown, like wood.
Step 12: Brown beams
Colour the top beam, the table, the 2 feet and the 2 knobs dark brown.
Step 13: Dark plate
Go over your lines, then colour the pressing plate dark grey.