Woodblocks were made by cutting out different shapes from wooden blocks. These blocks and shapes were dipped in ink and then were pressed against a paper to print the required design and syllable. This kind of print was done in China in 594 AD. The craftsmen did a peculiar thing - they folded the paper on one side and then printed on both the sides. These were the Accordion books. The printing was sponsored by the imperial state. It became popular due to the full reasons:
1. The demand for books could not be met by handwritten manuscripts.
2. Circulation of manuscripts was difficult as they were difficult to handle and fragile.
3. Due to the demand for books, woodblock printing became cheaper.
