Do you want to know the uses of a printer before making that troubling purchase? Today a printer is a necessity for many homes and businesses. The printing technology has evolved from traditional woodblock printing to 3D printing.
There are different types of printers, each with unique features. Each printer type comes with its specific use. The type of printer you buy will determine where and how you’ll use it. Here are the differ
Uses of Printers
The printer can create different forms of hardcopies from soft copies. You can print text, pictures, document files, and any graphics. Amazingly, you can print from your PC, smartphone, etc. All these uses make printers the ultimate requirement for businesses and homes.
What Is A Printer/ Printing Machine?
A printer is a machine that receives graphics, pictures, and text from a PC or phone and puts it on paper.
Different printer brands exist in the market, such as HP, Canon, Epson, etc. Printers do vary in sophistication, speed, size, and cost.
Generally, expensive printers are fast and offer high-resolution color printing. The most popular type of printers is laser and inkjet.
What Are The Different Types Of Printers And Their Uses?
Today there are different printer manufacturers such as Lexmark, Hewlett-Packard, Epson, Canon, and Xerox.
They all make high-quality and high-performance printers. There are also different types of printers in the market. This section explores them.
1. Laser Printer
The laser printer became popular in the 1960s. Its technology utilizes a focused beam of light to transfer images and texts onto paper. The laser beams come from a cylindrical drum known as a photoreceptor.
Laser printers use powdered ink. Its mechanism selectively collects and transfers electrically charged powder into a piece of paper. People love laser printers for their high-speed prints and high paper capacity.
2. Inkjet Printer
It creates a digital text or image by spraying ink onto paper. Inkjet is the most common technology in personal printers.
3. Multi-Functional Printer
You can also refer to it as an all-in-one printer. It’s known as an all-in-one printer because it can perform various tasks. These include printing, photocopying, scanning, and faxing.
Generally, multi-functional printers are cost-efficient. You don’t need to buy multiple devices for various tasks. You get all the crucial functionalities on one compact device.
Note that a multi-functional printer also consumes less energy than multiple powered devices. Overall, the printer is ideal for businesses looking to improve workflow, consolidate assets and reduce costs.
4. All-In-One Inkjet Printer
The printer type utilizes inkjet technology and the efficiency of multi-functional printers. It will surely save you from having to buy different machines.
An all-in-one printer will perfectly serve your busy business environment without compromising print quality.
In addition, this printer is also power efficient, saving you on electric costs.
5. Solid Ink Printer
The solid ink technology is unique and feels more wax-like. Its design helps to save packaging space and money.
The printing process involves using solid ink sticks. However, you have to melt them into liquid before using them.
Unlike popular inkjet printers, this printer transfers the ink into the drum onto the printing paper. Therefore this produces vibrant tones because drums are easier to control. In addition, solid ink printers are eco-friendly as the ink sticks are from non-toxic vegetable oils.
6. LED Printer
The first manufacturer of LED printers was OKI in 1989. Its functionality is so similar to that of a laser printer.
There’s only one major difference between LED and Laser printers. LED printers print texts, images, or graphics using light-emitting diodes.
Furthermore, they offer more reliability and efficiency than their counterpart. Thanks to their few moving parts. The manufacturing cost of LED printers is low, making them cheaper than laser printers.
7. 3D Printer
It’s surely the most intriguing invention in printing technology history. Besides, these printers are becoming more and more affordable. They are available for both professional and domestic use.
Modern 3D printers have the capability of printing actual 3D objects. People commonly use them to make prototypes. All in all, the 3D printer will offer you endless possibilities.
8. A3 Printers
The printer can only print on A3 papers. They are ideal for business and home users who need large high-quality prints. However, some A3 printers can produce a print in other varying sizes.
They come with different input trays that make this possible. Amazingly they are both available in inkjet and laser technologies.
What Are The Benefits of Printers?
In this modern world, printers are common in businesses and homes. They are actually among the most popular computer peripherals. Here are some of the benefits of printers.
Convenience
It’s one of the major advantages of printing out materials. You can easily mark up or make notes from printed materials.
Plus, most prints are usually lighter and smaller when folded. In addition, unlike tablets and laptops, they are easy to replace. Therefore losing them isn’t a major concern.
Easy To Read
Many people find printed documents easy to read. Generally, printed text is sharper than any display. For example, iPads render text with 264 DPI, while the most inexpensive printer models can offer an output of 600 DPI.
Plus, note that most PC, tablets, and smartphone displays are glossy and backlit. Therefore they are prone to glare and washing out in direct sunlight. On the other hand, printed pages are easy to read but not in dark conditions.
Secure Delivery
The beauty of printing is that you can anonymously deliver paper records. When it comes to emails, it’s easy to know who sent them and the recipient. But when you print a document, you can deliver it to someone without leaving a record.
It’s useful when sending sensitive documents that you don’t need other parties to intercept.
What Are The Downfalls of Printers?
Cost
Various variables determine the cost of a printer and the cost of printing documents. High-end printers with amazing features are usually expensive; they cost thousands of dollars. However, you’ll have to spend on printing services if you don’t have a personal printer.
Black and white page printing roughly ranges between 1 and 2 cents. In some places, you’ll incur additional paper costs.
Color printing is way expensive. You can create and send electronic documents if you want to avoid the costs.
Environmental Concerns
Printers hugely rely on papers that come from trees. On average, a small office with 10-15 workers will use papers which amount to 18 trees yearly.
Additionally, ink and toner have chemicals that are harmful to the environment. They are known to generate carbon if not properly disposed of. The printers also use power, about hundreds of watts.
What Should You Look For In A Printer?
There are different printer models and types, each with specific features. This section highlights the most crucial printer qualities that most people are usually after.
Color
Most modern printers do offer both color and black & white printing. Such printers are expensive to operate because they use two ink cartridges. You’ll have to replace them after printing a certain number of pages.
The ink or toner cartridges usually have black, yellow, cyan, and magenta ink. The manufacturers can mix the ink, or it might come from a different monochrome solid ink cartridge. It all depends on the printer type.
Speed
Printing speed is an important feature, especially for users who do too much printing. The inexpensive printers can produce 3-6 sheets in a minute. However, if you need fast printing, you should go with the high-end models.
Resolution
It’s simply the sharpness of images and texts on the printing paper. The resolution is in DPI (Dots per Inch). Low-end printers will offer you 600 DPI, which is enough for most print jobs.
Memory
Typically, printers have low memory of about 2-16 megabytes. However, it’s possible to expand your printer’s memory. Note that having more memory means faster and more efficient printing.
Sheet Feeder
It’s another important feature of modern printers. The sheet feeder holds blank paper needed for the printing process. It features two rolling pins that pull the paper in between them. This ensures the paper is wrinkle-free and straight.
Output Tray
The main function of the output tray is receiving paper sheets after the printing process. It also helps you to receive your prints in the right order. The output tray is an essential printer part because it makes the printing process convenient.
Conclusion
The article highlights the various uses of printers. You can use a printer for personal, business, or general activities. There are different types of printers with different uses. The most popular ones are laser and inkjet printers.
You can print anything from your modern printers, such as text document files, graphics, and pictures. Its main purpose is to make a soft copy out of a hard copy.
