Let me admit that I don’t have the exact answer when the printable started. I’m not sure about you, but I haven’t heard of the word “printable” until recent years, especially with the emergence and popularity of blogs and websites.
Before the internet, printed materials were widely used using traditional printing methods, such as letterpress, offset printing, etc. These methods involved the use of physical plates, inks, and presses to transfer text or images onto paper. This can be time-consuming, costly, and limited options.
As I’m writing this, I still remember those days when I had to talk to the designers explaining to them what to put on the brochures, such as moving the check boxes or tweaking the lines, etc.
Honestly, it’s not easy and time-consuming. Plus, I had to check numerous times before printing. Otherwise, it’d be costly and a waste to print hundreds of copies.