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Printer (publishing) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

In the world of books, newspapers, and magazines, printers are the people or companies that make printed materials. They use special machines called printing presses to put words and pictures onto paper.

Printing became very popular after Johannes Gutenberg invented the moveable type printing press around 1450. This amazing invention made it possible to print many copies of books quickly. Before this, books were copied by hand, which took a very long time!

Today, you can find printers all over the world. They help create many different things we read and use every day.

What Kinds of Printers Are There?

There are many types of printers, each focusing on different products:

  • Newspaper printers: These are often owned by the newspaper companies themselves. They work very fast to print the news every day.
  • Magazine printers: These companies usually work independently. They print colorful magazines for many different publishers.
  • Book printers: These printers specialize in making books. They might not be directly connected to the companies that publish the books.
  • Stationery printers: They print things like letterheads, envelopes, and business cards.
  • Packaging printers: These printers create the boxes, labels, and wrappers for products you buy in stores.
  • Commercial printers: These are general printers who offer many services. They can do both modern digital printing and older, traditional printing methods.

Sometimes, an artist uses a printing press to create their own artwork by hand. This kind of artist is usually called a printmaker. They use printing as a way to make art, not just to copy things.

Famous People in Printing History

Many people have made important contributions to the world of printing. Here are some of the most well-known:

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