DIGITAL PRINTING

By Jessica Curtis
PHOTOCOPYING
 A photocopier (also known as a copier or copy machine) is a
machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual
images quickly and cheaply. Most current photocopiers use a
technology called xerography, a dry process using heat. (Copiers can
also use other output technologies such as ink jet, but xerography is
standard for office copying.)Xerographic office photocopying was
introduced by Xerox in 1959, and it gradually replaced copies made by
Verifax, Photostat, carbon paper, mimeograph machines, and other
duplicating machines. The prevalence of its use is one of the factors
that prevented the development of the paperless office heralded early
in the digital revolution[ citation needed].Photocopying is widely used
in business, education, and government. There have been many
predictions that photocopiers will eventually become obsolete as
information workers continue to increase their digital document
creation and distribution, and rely less on distributing actual pieces of
paper.
LASER PRINTING
 A laser printer is a common type of computer printer
that rapidly produces high quality text and graphics
on plain paper. As with digital photocopiers and
multifunction printers (MFPs), laser printers employ
a xerographic printing process but differ from analog
photocopiers in that the image is produced by the
direct scanning of a laser beam across the printer's
photoreceptor.
INKJET
 An inkjet printer is a type of computer printer that reproduces
a digital image by propelling variably-sized droplets of liquid
material (ink) onto a page. Inkjet printers are the most
common type of printer and range from small inexpensive
consumer models to very large and expensive professional
machines. The concept of inkjet printing dates back to the 19th
century and the technology was first developed in the early
1950s. Starting in the late 1970s inkjet printers that could
reproduce digital images generated by computers were
developed, mainly by Epson, Hewlett-Packard and Canon. In
the worldwide consumer market, four manufacturers account
for the majority of inkjet printer sales: Canon, Hewlett-
Packard, Epson, and Lexmark. The emerging ink jet material
deposition market also uses ink jet technologies, typically
piezoelectric crystals, to deposit materials directly on substrates.
DESKTOP PUBLISHING
 Desktop publishing (also known as DTP) combines a
personal computer and WYSIWYG page layout
software to create publication documents on a
computer for either large scale publishing or small
scale local multifunction peripheral output and
distribution.The term "desktop publishing" is
commonly used to describe page layout skills.
However, the skills and software are not limited to
paper and book publishing. The same skills and
software are often used to create graphics for point of
sale displays, promotional items, trade show exhibits,
retail package designs and outdoor signs.