Final answer:
Playing cards were mass-produced using a woodblock printing process. Woodblock printing was a key technique for producing various printed materials historically, particularly playing cards in early fifteenth-century Europe and ukiyo-e artworks in Japan.
Step-by-step explanation:
Woodblock printing has a rich history and has been used for various purposes. Copper plates were etched to produce playing cards and illustrations in Europe since the early fifteenth century. In contrast, wooden type was utilized in the 1420s in the Netherlands for the same purpose. The woodblock printing process evolved over time, influencing not only the production of playing cards but also texts and illustrations.
In Japan, the art of creating ukiyo-e woodblock prints was particularly sophisticated, involving a collaborative effort by artists, carvers, and printers to produce colorful and detailed artworks. Gutenberg's advancement in printing technology also revolutionized the creation of printed materials, but this was achieved through movable metal type, as opposed to woodblocks.