Chapter 3B — Study Notes

Printing
Complete Exam Preparation Guide

📘 How to use these notes

All printer types are explained step-by-step with real-world examples, comparison tables, and
exam tips. Key terms are in bold throughout. A master summary table is included at the end.

1. The Two Big Categories of Printers

Before diving into specific printer types, you must understand the two main categories that ALL printers
belong to. Every printer is either an impact printer or a non-impact printer.

1.1 Impact Printers

An impact printer works by physically striking the paper to create an impression — just like a typewriter.

• How they work: A pin, hammer, or character-shaped plate physically hits an inked ribbon. The
ribbon presses against the paper and leaves an ink mark.
• Key feature: They MUST physically touch the paper to print.
• Sound: They are loud because of the mechanical striking action.
• Main use case: Multi-sheet (carbon copy) printing — the strike is forceful enough to print
through multiple layers of paper at once.
• Example: Dot matrix printers, old typewriters, band printers.

💡 Real-World Example — Where you still see impact printers

 Banks and government offices sometimes use dot matrix printers to print multi-part forms. When
you get a receipt with a yellow copy and a pink copy underneath — that was likely printed on an
impact printer. The strike punches through all layers at once.

1.2 Non-Impact Printers

A non-impact printer creates an image WITHOUT physically striking the paper. It uses other methods
such as spraying ink or using heat and laser light.

• How they work: Methods include spraying tiny droplets of ink, melting toner with heat, or using
light to charge a drum.
• Key feature: No physical striking — paper is not touched by a hammer or pin.
• Sound: Much quieter than impact printers.
• Speed: Tend to be faster than impact printers.
• Examples: Ink-jet printers, laser printers, photo printers, dye sublimation printers.

Feature Impact Printers Non-Impact Printers

Printing method Physically strikes paper via No physical contact with paper
pin/hammer

Sound level Loud Quiet

Multi-sheet printing Yes (carbon copies) No

Speed Slower Generally faster

Examples Dot matrix, band printers Ink-jet, laser, photo printers

2. Dot Matrix Printers

2.1 What is a Dot Matrix Printer?

A dot matrix printer is a type of impact printer — meaning it physically strikes the paper. It was very
common in offices and government departments before ink-jet and laser printers took over. You can still
find them in places that need to print carbon copies (duplicate forms).
2.2 How a Dot Matrix Printer Works — Step by Step
Here is the exact printing process:

• Step 1 — Print head moves: A print head moves horizontally across the paper from left to
right.
• Step 2 — Pins fire: Inside the print head, there are small metal pins (needles). The pins are
fired rapidly forward by electromagnets.
• Step 3 — Hits the ribbon: The pins strike an inked ribbon (similar to a typewriter ribbon) that
sits between the print head and the paper.
• Step 4 — Ink transfers: The ribbon is pressed against the paper by the pin, transferring ink and
creating a dot.
• Step 5 — Pattern of dots = letters: By firing different combinations of pins, the printer creates
patterns of tiny dots that form letters, numbers, and simple graphics.

🔍 Why is it called 'Dot Matrix'?

The word 'matrix' means a grid or pattern. The print head uses a grid (matrix) of pins. Each
character (letter or number) is formed by a specific pattern of dots from that grid. For example,
the letter 'H' is made by firing pins on the left column, a middle row, and the right column —
forming the shape with dots.

2.3 Types of Dot Matrix / Impact Printers

• Standard dot matrix: The most common type — pins strike a ribbon.
• Line printers: Print an entire line of text at once (faster than printing one character at a time).
• Band printers: Use a rotating band with characters shaped on it. The band spins at high speed
and a hammer strikes the band at the right moment to print each character.

2.4 Speed of Dot Matrix Printers

Speed is measured in CPS — Characters Per Second.

• Basic models: 50 to 70 CPS (characters per second).

• High-end models: Up to 500 CPS.
2.5 Where Dot Matrix Printers are Used Today
• Government offices: For printing large official documents and forms.
• Multi-sheet / carbon copy forms: When you need duplicate copies of a receipt or invoice, dot
matrix is the only practical choice — the physical strike goes through all layers.
• Banks and warehouses: For printing continuous feed paper reports.

📝 Exam Tip

Remember: Dot matrix = IMPACT printer. Speed = CPS (Characters Per Second). Key
advantage = can print multi-sheet carbon copies. Key components = print head, pins, inked
ribbon.

3. Ink-Jet Printers

3.1 What is an Ink-Jet Printer?

An ink-jet printer is a non-impact printer — it does not hit the paper. Instead, it sprays tiny droplets of
liquid ink onto the paper through microscopic nozzles. This is the most common type of home printer.

3.2 How an Ink-Jet Printer Works — Step by Step

• Step 1 — Ink cartridge loads: The printer contains ink cartridges filled with liquid ink.
• Step 2 — Print head moves: The print head (containing tiny nozzles) moves across the paper
horizontally.
• Step 3 — Ink is sprayed: Tiny nozzles in the print head spray microscopic droplets of ink onto
the paper at precise locations.
• Step 4 — Dots form the image: Thousands of tiny ink dots combine to form text and images.
• Step 5 — Paper moves forward: The paper advances a tiny amount and the process repeats
for the next line.
 💡 Analogy — How an Ink-Jet Works

Think of an ink-jet printer like an extremely precise water pistol. Instead of water, it fires
microscopic droplets of ink. The nozzles are so small that each droplet is thinner than a human
hair. By firing millions of these tiny drops in precise locations, the printer builds up an image dot
by dot.

3.3 Color Printing — CMYK

Ink-jet printers print in color using a system called CMYK. This stands for four colors of ink:

• C = Cyan (a shade of blue)

• M = Magenta (a shade of red/pink)
• Y = Yellow
• K = Black (the K stands for 'Key' in printing — black is the key color)

By mixing these four inks in different amounts, the printer can produce virtually any color. For example:

◦ Cyan + Yellow = Green

◦ Magenta + Yellow = Red/Orange
◦ Cyan + Magenta = Purple/Blue
◦ All four together = Very dark (near black)

🎨 Why not use RGB for printing?

Screens (monitors) use RGB (Red, Green, Blue) because they ADD light together. Printers use
CMYK because they work with INK on paper — ink absorbs light instead of emitting it. The rules
of color mixing are different for light vs. ink. RGB = adding light (screen). CMYK = subtracting
light (print).

3.4 Ink-Jet Printer Specifications

• Speed: Measured in PPM — Pages Per Minute. Typical speed = 2 to 4 PPM.
• Quality: Measured in DPI — Dots Per Inch. Typical quality = 300 DPI or higher.
3.5 DPI — Dots Per Inch Explained
DPI measures how many individual ink dots the printer places in one inch of printed space.

• Low DPI (e.g., 72 DPI): Fewer dots per inch — image looks grainy and blocky (like old
newspaper photos).
• High DPI (e.g., 1200 DPI): More dots per inch — image looks smooth, sharp, and detailed.
• Standard for decent home printing: 300 DPI is considered the minimum for acceptable
quality.

🔍 DPI Analogy

Imagine painting a picture using a stamp dipped in ink. If your stamp is large (low DPI), you can
only fit a few stamps per inch — the image is coarse. If your stamp is tiny (high DPI), you can fit
hundreds per inch — the image is smooth and detailed. More dots per inch = finer, more
detailed print.

3.6 Ink Cartridge Insider Facts

• Electronics in the cartridge: Nearly all of the printing electronics (the print head nozzles) are
built INTO the ink cartridge itself.
• This means: When you replace the cartridge, you also replace the print head — this keeps the
printer in good condition.
• Refilling cartridges: Refilling is OK, but cartridges should not be refilled more than 2-3 times —
after that the print head nozzles degrade.

3.7 Cost and Use Cases

• Initial cost: Ink-jet printers are inexpensive to buy.
• Running cost: Ink cartridges can be expensive relative to how many pages they print.
• Best for: Home use, color printing, photos, documents — where volume is not extremely high.

📝 Exam Tip
 Ink-jet = NON-IMPACT printer. Color system = CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black). Speed =
PPM (Pages Per Minute). Quality = DPI (Dots Per Inch). Electronics are in the ink cartridge
itself.

4. Laser Printers

4.1 What is a Laser Printer?

A laser printer is a high-quality non-impact printer. It uses a laser beam, a special drum, and powder
(called toner) to produce very sharp text and images. Laser printers are the standard for offices that
need fast, high-quality printing.

4.2 How a Laser Printer Works — Step by Step

• Step 1 — Laser draws the image: A laser beam rapidly scans back and forth across a rotating
drum inside the printer. The laser beam draws the image (text or graphics) onto the drum using
light.
• Step 2 — Drum is charged: Where the laser touches the drum, it changes the electrical charge
of that part of the drum's surface.
• Step 3 — Toner sticks: Toner (a fine black or colored powder) is attracted to the electrically
charged areas on the drum — the areas where the laser drew the image.
• Step 4 — Toner transfers to paper: As paper passes by the drum, the toner is transferred
from the drum onto the paper.
• Step 5 — Toner is melted/fused: The paper passes through a fuser unit (heated rollers) that
melts the toner and permanently bonds it to the paper.

💡 Analogy — Laser Printer Process

Think of a laser printer like a stamp made of electricity. The laser 'draws' an invisible image
using electrical charges on a drum. The toner powder sticks to the charged areas (like iron
filings sticking to a magnet). Then heat melts the powder permanently onto the paper. The laser
never touches the paper — it just controls the drum.
 🌍 Fun Fact

A laser printer works on a very similar process to a photocopier. The first photocopier was
invented in Astoria, New York in 1938 by Chester Carlson and Otto Kornei.

4.3 Laser Printer Specifications

• Speed: Measured in PPM (Pages Per Minute). A typical color laser printer prints 4–16 PPM.
High-end office printers can reach 50+ PPM.
• Quality: Measured in DPI (Dots Per Inch) — same measurement as ink-jet.
• Color or B&W: Laser printers come in both black-and-white only and color models.

4.4 Laser vs. Ink-Jet — Key Differences

Feature Ink-Jet Printer Laser Printer

Type Non-impact Non-impact

Ink/Toner Liquid ink (cartridge) Powder toner (cartridge)

Printing method Sprays ink droplets Laser + drum + heat fuses

toner

Speed 2–4 PPM (slow) 4–16+ PPM (faster)

Print quality Good (300+ DPI) Excellent (600–1200+ DPI)

Initial cost Low (cheap to buy) Higher (more expensive to

buy)

Running cost High ink cartridge cost/page Lower cost per page

Best for Home, photos, color Office, high-volume, text

documents

Color system CMYK CMYK (color models)

5. All-In-One Printers
5.1 What is an All-In-One Printer?
An all-in-one printer (also called a multifunction printer or MFP) combines multiple devices into a single
machine. Instead of buying four separate devices, you get everything in one compact unit.

5.2 What Functions Does It Include?

• Printer: Prints documents and images (usually uses ink-jet or laser technology).
• Scanner: Scans physical documents and converts them into digital files.
• Copier: Scans a document and immediately prints a copy — just like a standalone photocopier.
• Fax machine: Sends and receives faxes over a phone line.

5.3 Why All-In-One Printers are Popular

• Space saving: One machine replaces four — perfect for home offices and small businesses.
• Cost effective: Cheaper than buying four separate devices.
• Easy to use: Simple interface to switch between functions.
• Available in black-and-white and color models.
• Lightweight and compact.

💡 Practical Example

A student at home with an all-in-one printer can: print their assignment (printer), scan a
handwritten diagram to attach to an email (scanner), make a photocopy of an important
document before sending the original (copier), and send a signed form to an office (fax). All from
one device!

6. How to Compare Printers — What to Look For

When choosing a printer, you need to consider several factors. The slides identify five key questions to
ask:
 • 1. What do you need to print? Just text? Text AND graphics? Photos? Different printers excel
at different tasks.
• 2. What is your budget for buying? Initial cost — how much can you spend upfront to
purchase the printer?
• 3. What are the ongoing costs? Cost of operation — how much do ink/toner cartridges cost?
How often do they need replacing? Maintenance costs?
• 4. What image quality do you need? Measured in DPI (Dots Per Inch). Higher DPI = sharper,
better quality prints.
• 5. How fast does it need to print? Measured in PPM (Pages Per Minute). Normal home use =
6–8 PPM. High-volume office = 50+ PPM.

📝 Exam Tip — The Two Key Measurements

DPI = Dots Per Inch = measures print QUALITY. Higher DPI = sharper image. PPM = Pages
Per Minute = measures print SPEED. Higher PPM = faster printer. These two measurements
apply to both ink-jet AND laser printers.

7. High-Quality / Special Purpose Printers

Beyond everyday home and office printers, there are professional-grade printers designed for
specialized tasks — used by print shops, publishers, photographers, architects, and designers.

7.1 Photo Printers

Photo printers are designed specifically to produce film-quality photographic prints — results that look
as good as photos developed from film in a darkroom.

• Technology used: Some use ink-jet technology with very fine nozzles and special photo inks.
Others use dye sublimation technology (explained below).
• Print speed: Very slow — approximately 2 minutes per single printout.
• Print sizes: Can print in a variety of sizes — small wallet photos up to large format prints.
• Output quality: True photographic quality with smooth color gradients.
 💡 Example

A professional photographer who needs 8x10 inch prints of a wedding would use a photo
printer. The 2-minute-per-print speed is acceptable because quality matters more than speed in
this use case.

7.2 Thermal Wax Printers

Thermal wax printers produce very bold, vivid colors — ideal for presentations and printed handouts.

• How they work: Instead of liquid ink, they use wax-based color ribbons. Heat from the print
head melts the colored wax, transferring it onto the paper.
• Similar to dye sublimation (explained below) but uses wax dots instead of evaporated dye.
• Versatile surface printing: Can print on almost any surface — regular paper, synthetic fiber,
specialty materials.
• Colors do not bleed: Because the wax sits on top of the surface rather than soaking in, colors
stay sharp with no bleeding or blurring.
• Low operating cost: Wax ribbons are relatively inexpensive.
• Slow output: Not suitable for high-volume printing.
• Best for: Presentation graphics, colorful handouts, overhead transparencies.

7.3 Dye Sublimation Printers

Dye sublimation printers produce the most realistic, photographic-quality color output of any printer
type. They are used by professional photographers and publishing houses.

• How they work: The printer uses special dye ribbons. Heat causes the dye to sublimate —
meaning it turns directly from solid into gas (skipping the liquid stage). The gas dye penetrates
into the surface of the paper and becomes part of it.
• Result: Colors blend smoothly and realistically, with no visible dots — the output looks exactly
like a photograph.
• Operating cost: Very HIGH — the special dye ribbons and paper are expensive.
• Speed: Very SLOW.
• Best for: Professional photography, high-quality color publication proofs, ID card printing.
 🔬 What does 'sublimation' mean?

Sublimation is a scientific term for when a substance goes directly from solid to gas without
becoming liquid first. Dry ice (frozen CO2) is a common example — it goes from solid to gas
vapor directly. In dye sublimation printing, the solid dye on the ribbon becomes a gas when
heated, and that gas soaks into the paper surface to create a smooth, continuous-tone image.

7.4 Plotters
Plotters are a special type of large-format output device used to produce very large, precise drawings
on paper. They are technically printers because they output to paper, but they work quite differently.

• Primary use: Printing large architectural drawings, engineering blueprints, maps, and technical
diagrams.
• How they work: A plotting pen (or ink head) moves across a very large sheet of paper following
precise coordinates sent from a computer. The result is a large, highly detailed technical
drawing.
• Also called table plotters: Because the large paper is laid flat on a table-sized surface.
• Operating cost: Low — pens/ink for plotters are inexpensive.
• Speed: Very SLOW — detailed large drawings take significant time.
• Best for: Architects, engineers, cartographers (map makers), interior designers.

💡 Real-World Example

An architect designing a multi-story building needs to print a 3-foot-wide floor plan that shows
every room, wall, and measurement in precise detail. A regular printer would make it tiny and
unreadable. A plotter prints it at full scale on large paper with perfect accuracy.

7.5 Master Comparison — All High-Quality Printer Types

Printer Type How It Output Speed Cost to Run Best For

Works Quality

Photo Printer Ink-jet or dye Film-quality Very slow (~2 Medium-High Photography,
sublimation photos min/page) photo prints
 Printer Type How It Output Speed Cost to Run Best For
Works Quality

with photo
inks

Thermal Wax Heat melts Bold, vivid Slow Low Presentation

colored wax color graphics,
onto surface handouts

Dye Heat turns Photorealistic, Very slow Very High Pro

Sublimation dye to gas; smooth color photography,
gas soaks publishing
into paper

Plotter Pen/ink head Very precise Very slow Low Architecture,

traces technical engineering,
precise lines drawings maps
on large
paper

8. Master Summary for Exam

8.1 All Printer Types at a Glance

Printer Impact/Non- Key Speed Unit Quality Unit Special Feature

Impact Technology

Dot Matrix IMPACT Pins strike CPS (50– DPI Multi-

inked ribbon 500) sheet/carbon
copy printing

Ink-Jet NON- Sprays liquid PPM (2–4) DPI (300+) Cheap to buy;
IMPACT ink (CMYK) electronics in
cartridge

Laser NON- Laser + drum PPM (4– DPI (600+) Fast, high quality,
IMPACT + toner + 50+) low cost/page
heat fuser
Printer Impact/Non- Key Speed Unit Quality Unit Special Feature
Impact Technology

All-In-One NON- Ink-jet or PPM DPI Print + Scan +

IMPACT laser inside Copy + Fax in
one

Photo Printer NON- Fine ink-jet Very slow Film quality Photographic
IMPACT or dye (~2 min) output
sublimation

Thermal NON- Heat melts Slow Bold color Presentations; no

Wax IMPACT colored wax color bleeding

Dye NON- Heat turns Very slow Highest Professional

Sublimation IMPACT dye to gas quality photo/publishing

Plotter NON- Pen traces Very slow Extremely Large format:

IMPACT precise lines precise architecture/maps

8.2 Key Terms to Know for the Exam

• CPS — Characters Per Second. Speed unit for dot matrix printers.
• PPM — Pages Per Minute. Speed unit for ink-jet and laser printers.
• DPI — Dots Per Inch. Quality measurement for ALL printers. Higher = better.
• CMYK — Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black. The four ink colors used in color printing.
• Toner — Fine powder used in laser printers (not liquid ink).
• Fuser — The heated rollers in a laser printer that melt and bond toner to paper.
• Sublimation — Solid turns directly to gas (used in dye sublimation printers).
• DMD — Digital Micro Mirror Device (from Chapter 3A projectors — may appear on exam).
• Multi-sheet printing — Printing through multiple layers of paper at once. Only possible with
IMPACT printers.
• Carbon copy — A duplicate made when an impact printer strikes through multiple layers of
paper.

🎯 Final Exam Checklist

Can you answer these? (1) What is the difference between impact and non-impact printers? (2)
How does a dot matrix printer work? What is its speed unit? (3) What does CMYK stand for? (4)
How does a laser printer work — name each step. (5) What does DPI measure? What does
PPM measure? (6) What are the four functions of an all-in-one printer? (7) What makes dye
sublimation different from thermal wax? (8) What is a plotter used for? Good luck!