| The printer, one of the more important | | | | Another printer type is toner-based and uses |
| peripherals for any computer these days, is a | | | | the principle behind photocopier technology. |
| must-have for producing hard copy. It allows | | | | One such toner-based printer is the laser |
| users to get hold of the tangible results of | | | | printer, which makes use of dry powdered ink |
| electronic data created and stored in the | | | | and laser beam technology. Laser printers are |
| computer. | | | | the preferred printer for a speedier turn-out |
| | | | of high quality prints. They are usually the |
| While printing presses still hold the number | | | | printer of choice for office or corporate |
| one spot for mass production of high | | | | settings. |
| definition results, many professional print | | | | |
| and graphic businesses utilize a computer | | | | Color printers, on the other hand, produce |
| printer for fast and good quality prints. | | | | not only black or monochrome hard copy |
| | | | prints, but the whole color range. With the |
| There are many printer types, and one of | | | | advent of digital cameras, photo printers |
| these is the local peripheral printer, or | | | | have seen an increase in popularity. Formerly |
| computer printer. It is attached directly to | | | | high-priced and used only by professional |
| the computer via a printer cable to enable | | | | photographers, the photo printer is now more |
| the user to print data directly from the | | | | accessible to the digital camera-owning |
| source. Another type of printer is the | | | | public. |
| network printer, which is connected to many | | | | |
| computers on a built-in network and allows | | | | Photo printers normally contain more ink |
| local or network connected users to print | | | | cartridges compared to the standard inkjet |
| hard copy results. | | | | printer in order to duplicate the color range |
| | | | seen in the viewfinder of a digital camera |
| A user can choose to print data using an | | | | and to produce more realistic, high |
| impact printer, a printing device that | | | | definition pictures. There is currently a |
| utilizes a print head containing several | | | | surge of compact photo printers in the market |
| metal pins that strike against a ribbon to | | | | today. These photo printers turn out standard |
| produce print on a page. An example of an | | | | size 4" by 6" prints and do not even require |
| impact printer is a dot-matrix printer, which | | | | the use of a computer. |
| is a low-definition device normally used in | | | | |
| the printing of cash register receipts or | | | | Modern printer technology has also brought |
| invoices. | | | | the multifunction printer, also known as the |
| | | | All-In-One (AIO) printer. This type of |
| Meanwhile, a non-impact printer is a faster | | | | printer caters to the user who prefers an |
| and quieter printer. Thermal printers fall | | | | all-purpose device in a single unit. Most |
| under this category. Thermal printers use | | | | standard All-In-One printers can be directly |
| heat to print on special heat-receptive paper | | | | linked to outside peripherals like memory |
| and are normally found in portable | | | | cards, flash drives, or even image-capture |
| calculators. Another kind of non-impact | | | | devices like digital cameras. The |
| printer, the ink-jet printer, squirts fine | | | | multifunctional characteristic of the |
| jets of ink from ink cartridges unto the | | | | All-In-One printer allows it to function as a |
| paper. | | | | scanner, a printer and a fax machine, all |
| | | | found in just one printing device. |