A printer is a hardware output device that generates hard copies of text documents or images, or a combination. Most people use a printer for work, school, or personal purposes.
To create a printed document, the printer must receive electronic data from a computer. This data can be sent by selecting the “Print” option from the File menu of many software programs, including word processors and image editing tools. The printer can then print the document on paper, usually using a single color of ink for each page. Some printers can also produce three-dimensional objects from electronic data using additive processes, similar to how 3D scanners work.
The printing process involves a series of steps that are controlled by the printer’s nozzle. Depending on the type of printer, these can include:
Inkjet Printers
In an inkjet printer, liquid ink in either a coloured dye or a solid pigment is sprayed onto the paper. When the printer head reaches an area of the page with digital text or an image, a nozzle in the print head is activated and a droplet of ink is ejected. This is repeated for every line of text or image.
Laser Printers
In a laser printer, a beam of light reflects off a drum inside the machine to attract toner to selected areas of the page as it rolls over the drum. This creates a high-quality printed document that does not require the drying time of an inkjet.
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