From manuscript to Print: The Production of a Standardized Text of Sefer ha-zoharw in Manatua (1558-1560) \ prof. Daniel Abrams

The printing of the Zohar in the sixteenth century was overdeterrmind. The success of the Italian printers in concurrently producing two printed editions derailed other ongoing and future Zohar projects in manuscript and compelled the Safedian kabbalists and their students to amaned and react to the print as the canonical text instead of producing an alternative product for widespread consumption.