Some of the earliest printers were called dot matrix printers, and they actually used ribbon tape, similar to typewriters.

The world’s fastest printer can print well over 100 pages per minute.

Most retail store receipts are printed using thermal printers, which don’t use ink. Instead, they rely on heat and special thermal paper—a type that often contains BPA, a chemical that is technically toxic.

Per ounce, printer ink is more expensive than champagne.

The first laser printer was invented by Xerox in 1969, and some of those early models cost around $100,000.

One of the largest traditional printers can print up to 12 meters wide.

Any printer connected to a network—including your home printer—can potentially be hacked.

The Soviet Union once reverse-engineered IBM printers without ever physically obtaining or seeing one.

Some industrial printers used toxic ink, requiring workers to wear personal protective equipment for safety.

Many modern printers include built-in restrictions such as chips in the ink cartridges that falsely indicate you’re out of ink. Some will refuse to use unofficial cartridges, and a few are even region-locked, meaning they won’t work in a different country.

The first 3D printer was invented by Chuck Hull in 1984, long before they became mainstream.

3D printers aren’t just for tools, toys, or shoes—they’re also used to make prosthetic limbs, food, and even houses.

NASA uses 3D printers aboard the International Space Station.

Cakes with highly detailed designs usually use edible ink printers to achieve those effects.

There are also printers designed to assist in tattoo creation.