Printer (publishing)

Print shops in the 15th century per establishment date and book output

In publishing, printers are both companies providing printing services and individuals who directly operate printing presses.

With the invention of the moveable type printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1450, printing—and printers—proliferated throughout Europe.

Today, printers are found throughout the world. They include:

• Newspaper printers are often owned by newspaper publishers
• Magazine printers are usually independent of magazine publishers
• Book printers, often not directly connected with book publishers
• Stationery printers
• Packaging printers
• Commercial printers, often offering digital and traditional printing services

An artist who operates a printing press to execute their own works, especially by hand in limited runs, is usually distinguished from other printers by the term printmaker.

Famous printers

• John Baskerville
• Jodocus Badius
• William Bradford
• Henry Estienne
• William Caxton
• Stephen Day
• Benjamin Franklin
• Johann Froben
• Hieronymus Froben
• Charlotte Guillard
• Johannes Gutenberg
• Colard Mansion
• Aldus Manutius
• Grigor Marzuantsi
• Jacob Meghapart
• Ottaviano Petrucci
• Christoffel Plantijn
• Mkhitar Sebastatsi
• Francysk Skaryna
• Voskan Yerevantsi