Printers transformed the way we work over the course of the 20th century. As computer technology developed, so did our need to produce physical copies of what we created on screen. The printer soon became a home and office staple, allowing professional documents to be created, shared, copied and filed at a low cost.
Today, printing technologies have developed to give us high quality and accurate documents at the push of a button. These devices are faster and more efficient than ever, where they remain an office necessity despite an increase in digital file storage.
Read on for an overview of the different types of modern printing technology commonly found in our workplaces.
Solid Ink Printers
These printers consist of solid sticks of ink which are heated until they reach their melting point, which allows the ink to be utilised to produce a printed image. These are generally cheap to run and are ideal for printing high quality images. A disadvantage of this method is that the ink cartridges are vulnerable to low melting temperatures, which can result in smudging.
Toner-Based Printers
This type of printing uses powder-based particles which are then fused to the paper under pressure. Toner is generally used in laser printers, where these are known for being quicker and quieter than other printer options. Negatives of this printer are that they take time to warm up, and can’t print on a range of paper types.
Liquid Inkjet Printers
These printers work by spraying liquid ink onto the page to form a printed image or piece of text. This printer type can be affordable to buy, where most models can print onto a range of paper types. The downsides of these models are that the ink can be expensive, whilst water-based inks are liable to fade over time.
Dye-Sublimation Printers
In this type of printer, dye is transferred from a ribbon or plastic film using an electrically heated element, where this process prints one line at a time. This technique allows this method to be used on a range of surfaces and objects.
Thermal Printers
This printer uses heat-sensitive or thermochromic coated paper to produce an image, where the paper is passed through a print head containing tiny electronically heated elements. These printers can produce high quality results as an absence of ink reduces smudging.
Copy Care Services UK: Printer Services For Your Business
At Copy Care Services UK, we can supply your office with essential printing and photocopying equipment, where we can also offer office photocopier and printer maintenance services. Contact us today to find out more.
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