An output device accepts data from a computer and translates it into a form suitable for the outside world. There are two main types of output: soft copy, which is temporary, and hard copy, which is permanent and printed onto paper or other material. Printers are commonly used today to produce hard copy output. Dot matrix printers print one character at a time using pins that strike an ink ribbon to form dots, while inkjet printers spray small ink drops to form characters and images at high resolution but slower speeds. Laser printers use a laser beam to fuse tiny ink particles onto paper for very high quality output.

1. An output device is an electromagnetic
device which accepts data from a computer
and translates them into a form, which is
suitable for use by the outside world.

2. TYPES OF OUTPUT
1. SOFT COPY OUTPUT—
 It is not produced on a paper or some other material
which can be touched.
 They are temporary in nature and vanish after use.
2. HARD COPY OUTPUT—
 It is produced on a paper or some other material which
can be touched.
 They are permanent in nature and used any time.

3. Printers are the most common used output devices
today for producing hard copy output .

4. DOT MATRIX PRINTER
 It is a character printer which prints one character at a time in
the pattern of dots.
 It has a printer head with array of pins which works
independently to strike against an inked ribbon to form a pattern
of dots on the paper.
 They can print any shape of character, graphics, different sizes of
print, which a programmer can describe.
 They are impact printers and hence noisy.
 They can be used to produce multiple copies by using carbon
paper.
 Speed is slow, 30 to 600 characters per second.
 Used in printing shipping forms, invoices etc..

6. INKJET PRINTER
 It is a character printer which form characters and all kinds of
images by spraying small drops of ink onto the paper.
 They produce high output quality. Its print resolution is 360 dots
per inch.
 They can print any shape of characters, different sizes of print,
print graphics etc.
 They are non impact printers as they print by spraying ink on the
paper and hence not noisy.
 They cannot produce multiple copies.
 They are slower than dot matrix printer ranging between 40 to
300 characters per second.
 Used where speed is not an important factor.

7. WORKING
The print head contains
upto 64 tiny nozzles,
which can be selectively
heated in a few micro
seconds by an integrated
circuit register. By this ,
the ink vaporizes and is
ejected and makes a dot
on the paper placed in
front of the print head.

8. DRUM PRINTER
 These are line printers which print one line at a time.
 It consists of a solid cylindrical drum, hammers, inked ribbon.
Total no. of hammers is equal to the total no. of bands on the
drum.
 The drum rotates at a very high speed. All characters are not
printed at a same time but due to its high speed it appears as if
one line is printed at a time.
 It is expensive hence cannot be changed frequently.
 No ability to print any shape of characters, different sizes of
print, and graphics.
 Impact printer. Hence can be used to produce multiple copies at
a time.
 Noisy in operation.
 Speed is 300 to 2000 lines per minute.

9. WORKING
The drum rotates at a
high speed, and a
character at a print
position is printed by
activating the
appropriate hammer ,
when the character
embossed on the band at
the print position passes
below it. Hence, the
drum would have to
complete one full
revolution to print each
line of output.

10. CHAIN/BAND PRINTER
 These are line printers which print one line at a time.
 It consists of a chain band, set of hammers, inked
ribbon.
 The chain can easily be changed which allows the use
of different fonts, scripts etc.
 No ability to print any shape, size of characters.
 Impact printers hence noisy in operation.
 Can be used to produce multiple copies at a time.
 Speed is 400 to 3000 lines per minute.

11. Its working is same as that of drum printers but here with this
printer the advantage is that the character set is repeated
several times on a chain, it is not necessary to wait for the chain
to make a complete revolution to position the desired character
in the correct print position.

12. LASER PRINTER
 These are page printers which print one page at a time.
 Its main components are a laser beam source, a multi sided
mirror, a photoconductive drum and toner (tiny particles of
oppositely charged ink).
 It produces very high quality output because they form
characters by very tiny ink particles.
 They can print any shape, size of characters.
 Non impact printers. Hence non noisy and can produce
multiple copies at a time.
 COMMON PRINTERS- resolution 600 dpi and can print 4
to 12 pages per minute.
 HIGH END LASER PRINTER- resolution 1200 dpi and can
print 500 to 1000 pages per minute i.e. one whole book.

13. To print a page the laser beam is focused on the electro statically
charged drum by the spinning multisided mirror which then
focuses the beam on the drum in a manner to create the patterns
of characters on the page. As the drum is photo conductive
potential difference creates on the exposed part of drum surface
which attracts the toner composed of oppositely charged ink
particles and permanently fuses it to generate the printed output.
The toner is then removed by a rubber blade.

14. LATEST PRINTERS
LED/ LCD PRINTER DIGITAL PHOTO PRINTER
 It is a electro photographic  These are able to print photo
printer which is somewhat quality images.
identical to laser printer.  Photo print heads allow a
 Both liquid crystal display greater resolution to improve
and light emitting diode use a photo image quality.
light source instead of a laser  PHOTO INK JET PRINTERS
beam to produce an output. expand gamuts by adding
 Rest is identical to laser additional ink colors, usually
printer. light cyan and light magenta.

15. ....
MULTIFUNCTION
NETWORK PRINTER PRINTER
 It provides output capabilities  It combines top quality color
to all network users. By it you laser printing, color copying,
can save both space and color scanning and
money when you share over a telephoning.
network.
WIRELESS PRINTER LABEL PRINTER
It allows to work with It prints labels one at a time
wireless network, i.e. print which are of high quality. It
anywhere in office. can print different labels ,
e.g. Bar codes, different
size of labels on goods.

16. OTHER SUCH LATEST PRINTERS
1. CD/DVD PRINTER (DISC PRODUCER)
2. POS (POINT OF SALE) RECIEPT AND BANKING
PRINTER
3. VERSA LASER PRINTER
4. 3D PRINTERS (Z CORPORATION)