Editing Page printer

{{More citations needed|date=August 2014}}
A '''page printer''' is a computer [[Printer (computing)|printer]] which processes and prints a whole page at a time, as opposed to printers which print one line or character at a time such as [[line printer]]s and [[dot-matrix printer]]s. Page printers are often all incorrectly termed [[laser printing|“laser printers”]]&mdash;although virtually all laser printers are page printers, other page printing technologies also exist.

==Components==
The components of a page printer are:
*A print engine, "the unit within a printer that does the actual printing."<ref>{{cite web|title=Definition of:printer engine|url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/49696/printer-engine|website=PC Magazine|access-date=August 29, 2014}}</ref> For example, in a laser printer this would consist of the laser and drum and the mechanical paper feeds.
* [[Computer memory|Memory]] to process input and build up the image of a page. The printer may have its own memory or may use the host computer's memory.
* A [[page description language]] (PDL), with commands which tell the printer how to format the page. Popular PDLs are [[Printer Command Language|PCL]] (Printer Command Language) from [[Hewlett-Packard]], [[PostScript]] from [[Adobe Systems]] and PostScript clones, and [[Microsoft Windows|Windows’]] [[Graphics Device Interface]] (GDI).
*A [[raster image processor]] (RIP), i.e. a [[microprocessor|processor]] which constructs the [[Raster graphics|bitmap]] image of the page. Sometimes, this processing is done by the host computer. In other cases printers may have imbedded processors to perform this task.
*A printer driver, a program ([[device driver]]) which converts the computer's information about the page into the actual PDL. Printer drivers may be included with the [[operating system]], be distributed with the printer on CDs or DVDs, or be downloaded from the printer manufacturer's home page or from independent web sites.
*A connection (interface) to the host computer.  Many printers communicate by [[Wi-Fi]].  Other popular interfaces are [[USB]] and [[Ethernet]].  Many older printers also have a parallel ([[IEEE 1284|Centronics]]) interface.  High-end printers often have a [[Channel I/O|channel interface]] for direct connection to a [[mainframe computer]].

==Page printing technologies==
There are several page printing technologies, for example:
*'''Laser printers''', in which a laser beam draws the page image on charged drum which collects charged toner and transfers the image to paper.
*'''LED printers''', which use [[light-emitting diodes]] instead of a laser beam, but are otherwise very similar to laser printers.
*'''Melted wax (“phaser”) printers''', where solid ink is heated to the melting point and is applied on the print medium where it immediately solidifies.
*'''[[Dye-sublimation printer]]s''', where a solid ink (dye) is converted to a gaseous state ([[Sublimation (phase transition)|sublimation]]) and applied on the print medium, where it immediately solidifies.

==Properties==
*'''Resolution''', 600 or 1200 dpi (dots per inch) is common in most modern page printers, often with resolution enhancement or [[Spatial anti-aliasing|anti-aliasing]] to smooth uneven lines. Higher resolutions are common. Before about 1992, the year Hewlett-Packard made the [[LaserJet]] 4, built around a [[Canon Inc.|Canon]] engine, most page printers had only 300 dpi, which made visible jagged lines and relatively poor image quality.
*'''Engine speed'''. In 1984 Canon introduced the first “small”&mdash;{{convert|32|kg|lb}}&mdash; laser printers which could sit on a (sturdy) desktop with a print speed of 8 pages per minute (ppm). Today, even the smallest page printers may be able to print 15–20 ppm, and the largest may print above 1000 ppm.
*'''Processing power'''. Usually larger printers have more powerful processors than small personal ones.
*'''Size''', from personal page printers at {{convert|8–10|kg|lb}} to high-volume production printers which may not be installed by one person.
*'''Cost''', both cost of the printer and the operating costs. Generally, the larger and more expensive printers have lower operating costs than the small and inexpensive ones.
*'''Paper-handling facilities''' for folding, stapling, etc., especially for the larger printers.
*'''Colour printing capability'''.  Many printers print in black only.  Colour printers usually have multiple [[toner (printing)|toner]] cartridges, wax patrons etc. Printers using [[CMYK]] colour have four, one each for the colours cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. [[RGB color model|RGB]] printers have three, red, green, and blue, but may also have a "true black". Some [[ink jet printer]]s may have additional cartridges, for example light cyan and light magenta in addition to the others, but this is rarely found in page printers.
*'''Multi-function''' devices provide additional functions such as copying, scanning, or [[Fax]].
*'''Media handling''': Most page printers accept paper, transparencies, envelopes, labels etc. in formats up to [[ISO 216#A series|A4]] and [[Letter (paper size)|letter]]. Some printers may also handle other media types such as larger formats and heavier paper.
*'''Energy consumption, noise, etc.''' Some page printers are too noisy to stay in the near vicinity of the users, even if page printers are quieter than the old [[line printer]]s and other impact printers.

==References==
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[[Category:Printing]]