| t printers are an affordable and satisfactory option for | | | | use toner and other ingredients combined with heat to |
| printing documents and other images from computers. | | | | apply the ink to the paper. |
| They were originally placed on the market in the late | | | | What is going on inside the inkjet printer? The center |
| 1980’s and have improved greatly in production | | | | of the machine is the print head, which holds a |
| and cost since then. Today, high quality inkjet printers | | | | multitude of ink spray nozzles to create the intricate |
| are available for as low as $70.00. The reason for the | | | | dots on the paper. |
| low cost is the higher cost of keeping the printer | | | | Ink cartridges contain the ink for the printer and are |
| supplied with ink. This is where the real profits are for | | | | replaced according to frequency of use. Black ink and |
| printer manufacturers. | | | | color ink typically comes in different cartridges with |
| An inkjet printer uses millions of tiny dots of ink to | | | | color sometimes appearing in three separate |
| make a word or picture. For photo printing, different | | | | cartridges – cyan (blue), magenta (red), and |
| variations of colored dots are integrated to create | | | | yellow. Another part of the printer is the paper feeder, |
| images with true-to-life color. A higher resolution of | | | | a tray that holds the paper to be printed and feeds it |
| dots directly relates to increased quality of printouts. | | | | into the printer one page at a time. |
| There are two major technologies at work in the | | | | The choice of paper is instrumental in the resultant |
| choice of inkjet printers, impact and non-impact. Impact | | | | quality of the print. Regular copier paper will not provide |
| printers offer dot matrix or character printing. A dot | | | | as sharp a print as paper with a higher brightness level. |
| matrix printer has a bunch of tiny pinheads that touch | | | | Brightness in printer paper means being extra white, |
| an ink-covered ribbon. When the pinheads impact the | | | | which showcases the black and colors of the ink |
| ribbon, the ink moves to the paper. | | | | better than a duller white. Brightness also indicates a |
| Character printing is similar to an electric typewriter, but | | | | higher level of smoothness to the paper. |
| with more control and sharpness afforded to the | | | | Another factor is the level of absorption, which is |
| printing job. Character printers are rarely used | | | | helped by pre-coated paper covered with a light film to |
| anymore because they can only print words and not | | | | prevent feathering caused by too much absorption. |
| other images. | | | | Many different qualities and finishes are available in |
| Non-impact printers are much more popular than | | | | paper intended for inkjet printer use. |
| impact printers, because of the advanced technology | | | | Inkjet printers are widely used by everyone from the |
| behind them. Both the widely used inkjet and laser | | | | common man to huge corporations. For everyday use, |
| printers belong in this classification. Non-impact printers | | | | there are countless amounts of specialized sticker |
| do not actually contact the paper directly when printing. | | | | labels, invitations, fine stationery, and trifold brochures to |
| The way inkjet printers do this is by emitting jet sprays | | | | be used specifically with inkjet printers. Whatever the |
| of ink to form images on the paper. This is where the | | | | printing need, the inkjet printer is likely to handle the job |
| name “inkjet” gets its meaning. Laser | | | | with excellent results. |
| printers, the second most purchased printer after inkjet, | | | | |