Editing Laser printing (section)

==Color laser printers==
[[File:HP Color LaserJet CM1312nfi Multifunction Printer.jpg|thumb|A HP color laser printer with its cartridge drawer open showing the four toner cartridges inside]]
Color laser printers use colored toner (dry ink), typically [[cyan]], [[magenta]], [[yellow]], and [[black]] ([[CMYK]]). While [[Monochrome printmaking|monochrome printers]] only use one laser scanner assembly, color printers often have two or more, often one for each of the four colors.

Color printing adds complexity to the printing process because very slight misalignments known as registration errors can occur between printing each color, causing unintended color fringing, blurring, or light/dark streaking along the edges of colored regions. To permit a high registration accuracy, some color laser printers use a large rotating belt called a "transfer belt". The transfer belt passes in front of all the toner cartridges and each of the toner layers are precisely applied to the belt. The combined layers are then applied to the paper in a uniform single step.

Color printers usually have a higher cost per page than monochrome printers, even if printing monochrome-only pages.

Liquid electrophotography (LEP) is a similar process used in [[HP Indigo Division|HP Indigo]] presses that uses electrostatically charged ink instead of toner, and using a heated transfer roller instead of a fuser, that melts the charged ink particles before applying them to the paper.

===Color laser transfer printers===

Color laser transfer printers are designed to produce transfer media which are transfer sheets designed to be applied by means of a [[heat press]].  These transfers are typically used to make custom T-shirts or custom logo products with corporate or team logos on them.

2-part Color laser transfers are part of a two-step process whereby the color laser printers use colored toner (dry ink), typically [[cyan]], [[magenta]], [[yellow]], and [[black]] ([[CMYK]]); however, newer printers designed to print on dark T-shirts utilize a special white toner allowing them to make transfers for dark garments or dark business products.

The CMYK color printing process allows for millions of colors to be faithfully represented by the unique imaging process.

===Business-model comparison with inkjet printers===
Manufacturers use a similar [[business model]] for both low-cost color laser printers and [[inkjet printers]]: the printers are sold cheaply while replacement toners and inks are relatively expensive. A color laser printer's average running cost per page is usually slightly less, even though both the laser printer and laser toner cartridge have higher upfront prices, as laser toner cartridges print many more sheets relative to their cost than inkjet cartridges.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/inkjet-vs-laser-printers-which-is-better-for-home-use-176198|title=Pros & Cons for Home Use: Inkjet vs. Laser Printers|website=Apartment Therapy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officeinteriors.ca/blog/inkjet-vs-laser-printers/|title=Inkjet vs Laser Printers: Pros, Cons & Recommendation for 2019|date=August 26, 2019|website=Office Interiors}}</ref> 

The print quality of color lasers is limited by their resolution (typically 600–1200 dpi) and their use of just four color toners. They often have trouble printing large areas of the same or subtle gradations of color. Inkjet printers designed for printing photos can produce much higher quality color images.<ref name="SteinmuellerGulbins2010">{{cite book|author1=Uwe Steinmueller|author2=Juergen Gulbins|title=Fine Art Printing for Photographers: Exhibition Quality Prints with Inkjet Printers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xKj-3QdjCyMC&pg=PT37|date=21 December 2010|publisher=O'Reilly Media, Inc.|isbn=978-1-4571-0071-0|page=37}}</ref> An in-depth comparison of inkjet and laser printers suggest that laser printers are the ideal choice for a high quality, volume printer, while inkjet printers tend to focus on large-format printers and household units. Laser printers offer more precise edging and in-depth monochromatic color. In addition, color laser printers are much faster than inkjet printers, although being generally larger and bulkier.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Alexander|first1=Jordan|title=Inkjet vs Laser Printer|url=https://albertatoner.com/laser-vs-inkjet-printers/|website=Alberta Toner|publisher=Jordan Ale}}</ref>

===Anti-counterfeiting marks===
[[File:Printer Steganography Illustration.png|thumb|upright|Small yellow dots on white paper, generated by a color laser printer, are nearly invisible. Click to see higher-resolution image.]]
{{Main|Machine Identification Code}}
Many modern color laser printers mark printouts by a nearly invisible dot [[raster graphics|raster]], for the purpose of traceability. The dots are yellow and about {{convert|0.1|mm|abbr=on}} in size, with a raster of about {{convert|1|mm|abbr=on}}. This is purportedly the result of a deal between the [[Federal government of the United States|US government]] and printer manufacturers to help track [[counterfeiter]]s.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.eff.org/issues/printers | title = Electronic Frontier Foundation - Printer Tracking | publisher = Eff.org | access-date = 2017-08-06 }}</ref> The dots encode data such as printing date, time, and printer serial number in [[binary-coded decimal]] on every sheet of paper printed, which allows pieces of paper to be traced by the manufacturer to identify the place of purchase, and sometimes the buyer.

Digital-rights advocacy groups such as the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] are concerned about this erosion of the privacy and anonymity of those who print.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/02/eu-printer-tracking-dots-may-violate-human-rights | title = Electronic Frontier Foundation Threat to privacy | publisher = Eff.org | date = 2008-02-13 | access-date = 2010-11-17 }}</ref> In particular, the tracking dots were implicated as a tool that directly lead to the arrest and conviction of whistleblower [[Reality Winner]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://digg.com/2017/did-intercept-burn-reality-winner|work=Digg|date=June 6, 2017 |title=Did The Intercept Betray Its NSA Source With Sloppy Reporting?|first=L.V.|last=Anderson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101223854/http://digg.com/2017/did-intercept-burn-reality-winner|archive-date=January 1, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=June 6, 2017|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2017/06/06/did-the-intercept-bungle-nsa-leak/|title=Did the Intercept bungle the NSA leak?|first=Erik|last=Wemple|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713231635/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2017/06/06/did-the-intercept-bungle-nsa-leak/|archive-date=July 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>