The printed book versus the eBook In 868 C.E., the first book, 'Diamond Sutra', was printed on a series of woodblocks.1 Almost 1200 years later, the printed book is starting to disappear; the eBook is replacing the printed book. Will the printed book really disappear? Many people hope it will not disappear because people feel personally attached to it. For some professions the printed book is even the most important source of revenue. Nowadays, there are countless debates about the future of the printed book and about how it will survive. In July 1971, Micheal Hart created project Gutenberg aiming at making literary books free and electronically available to the public. This was the first step in creating the eBook. An eBook is quite similar to a printed book, but it uses a digital medium. A printed book is only available on paper, whereas an eBook is a digital version of a book. It can be displayed on different mediums such as: a computer, an e-reader, a mobile phone and on paper by printing it. Therefore, the eBook is a versatile medium that is readable everywhere and every moment. Although, the benefit of the eBook is its versatility, the printed book has a higher quality as far as readability is concerned. That is one of the reasons to preserve the printed book. In the 1200 years of its existence, the printed book has continuously improved up to its current perfection. One of the important improvements of the printed book has been enhancing the readability by using the perfect font. The 'perfect' font has been tested, by graphic designers, on several points, for example: thickness of a letter, the use of a sans letter or a sans-serif letter and the letter shapes. The quality of reading of the eBook is not as high as it is for the printed book, because it still has to overcome technical difficulties. Another argument that supports preserving the printed book is that many people feel personally attached to it. Every printed book has its own unique history with dog-eared pages, discoloration of paper or coffee spots. Often, people give a book to someone close to them, they write a quote or a text, for the receiver, on the first page of the book, as memory of the gift. The form, format, feeling, colour and smell of the book emphasize the message.2 Printed books are more than just the content. Printed books are the most important source of revenue for some professions such as printers, graphic designers and booksellers. For a bookseller it is difficult to make his living with selling books. The eBook is cheaper therefore consumers buy less printed books. It is also cheaper for the publisher, because there are no printing, binding, storing and distribution costs. Additionally, the eBook is easier for the consumer to buy because the eBook can be ordered while sitting behind the computer at home. Also graphic designers are hurt by the existence of the eBook. Graphic designers are educated to produce presswork and not online designs. A project aimed at presswork is for instance font design; that is an inspiring project because a graphic designer can immediately improve the reading experience by developing the perfect font. Font design is not as important for the eBook as it is for the printed book. Graphic designers often collaborate with other disciplines where printed designs are still important. Nowadays, there are countless debates around the future of the printed book. In many of these debates it is clear that the printed book should stay but it should have added value. The debaters acknowledge that the eBook will take over some features of the printed book, but that the focus of the printed book should be on the extra value. The added value can be realized by, for example using beautiful or striking paper. The way of printing also stimulates the sale of the printed book.3 'Will the printed book still exist in the future?' was the most important question for project RAMSJ (2011). The project uses multiple media to promote the printed book. It has a website and a volume of essays. Furthermore, it organizes many debates around the future of the printed book. The essays conclude that the printed book will exist in the future, but designers should experiment with the format of the book. They can do that by experimenting with the typography, the material and the visual design.4 By stretching the boundaries of the printed book, designers are able to involve the readers' body, hands and eyes, in the reading process. 'The form of the book, the cover, the pages and the typography become indissoluble and dynamic parts of the content of the printed book.'5 Another way to preserve the printed book is to give consumers the chance to print books at home. In this way printed books do not have to be printed in large print runs, so a book can be printed everywhere as long as a printer is available. It is already possible for people to print their own book; this is called 'Printing on Demand'.6 There is only one problem that has to be solved before this solution will work; a manageable machine should be made for cutting and binding copies of the printed book. A couple of big companies, Espresso, Xerox and Océ, are already working on this type of machines.7 In twenty years, the printed book may only exist in museums but for now the printed book is important for translating and transmitting knowledge. It is because the eBook is still facing technical difficulties that the printed book has not yet lost its impeccable value. Bibliography - Asscher, M., 'Boek op verzoek: Printing on Demand als Tweede Leven voor de Literaire Essayistiek', Groene Amsterdammer (2009) 21. - Paperdesk, Paper Back to the Future, Amsterdam, Paperdesk, 2011. - Soeng, M., The diamond Sutra: Transforming the way we perceive the world, Somerville, (Wisdom publications), 2000. - Velde, W., van der, Ernst, O., 'The futre of eBooks? Will print disappear? An end-user perspective', Library Hi Tech 27 (2009), 4, pp 570-583. - Ven, I., van de, 'Back to the Book: Analog Literature in the Digital Age' in: Ramsj, Amsterdam, Wintertuin Literair productiehuis, 2011. 1 Soeng 2000, p. 58. 2 Paperdesk 2011. 3 Ven, I., van de 2011. 4 Ven, I., van de 2011. 5 Ven, I., van de 2011. 6 Asscher, M. 2009. 7 Asscher, M. 2009.