noun
woodblock printer
A craftsman who prints using woodblocks, especially in traditional ukiyo-e production. The term is specific to the printing stage, distinct from the carver (彫師) or designer (絵師).
浮世絵の制作では、摺師が色を重ねて刷っていく。
In ukiyo-e production, the woodblock printer applies colors layer by layer.
彼は熟練の摺師として、何百枚もの版画を手がけた。
As a skilled woodblock printer, he produced hundreds of prints.
絵師 is the artist who creates the original design, whereas 摺師 executes the printing process.
Standard kanji spelling for a woodblock printer, using 摺 (printing) and 師 (master).
Variant using 刷 (printing) with okurigana; also seen.
Variant of 摺師 with okurigana; less common but understandable.
Rare variant without okurigana; may be encountered in older texts.
Compound of 摺 (すり, 'printing') + 師 (し, 'master, specialist'). The kanji 摺 specifically refers to printing from blocks, distinguishing it from general printing (印刷).