PC Maintenance: Preparing for A+ Certification Chapter 18: Working with Printers

PC Maintenance: PC Maintenance: Preparing for A+ Preparing for A+

CertificationCertificationChapter 18: Working with PrintersChapter 18: Working with Printers

Chapter 18 ObjectivesChapter 18 Objectives

Identify basic printer functionsIdentify basic printer functions Distinguish between classes of printersDistinguish between classes of printers Explain printer technologiesExplain printer technologies Explain the laser printing processExplain the laser printing process Install and manage printer drivers in Install and manage printer drivers in

WindowsWindows View and install Windows fontsView and install Windows fonts Troubleshoot printer problemsTroubleshoot printer problems

Basic Printing FunctionsBasic Printing Functions

Receive data from the PC through an I/O Receive data from the PC through an I/O interfaceinterface

Store the data in printer RAMStore the data in printer RAM Convert the data into print instructionsConvert the data into print instructions Feed the paper in and outFeed the paper in and out Store and dispense ink or tonerStore and dispense ink or toner Transfer the image onto the paperTransfer the image onto the paper

Line PrinterLine Printer

Print job is still spooling to the printer as Print job is still spooling to the printer as the page begins printingthe page begins printing

Requires very little RAM of its ownRequires very little RAM of its own Examples: Ink-jet, dot matrix, daisywheelExamples: Ink-jet, dot matrix, daisywheel

Line PrinterLine Printer

Page PrinterPage Printer

Entire page collects in printer RAM, then is Entire page collects in printer RAM, then is transferred to the papertransferred to the paper

Requires more RAM than a line printer Requires more RAM than a line printer because it must hold more data at a timebecause it must hold more data at a time

Examples: Laser, LEDExamples: Laser, LED

Page PrinterPage Printer

Ink or TonerInk or Toner

Liquid ink:Liquid ink: Sprayed onto paper Sprayed onto paper Dry toner:Dry toner: Transferred to paper with Transferred to paper with

electrical charge and then fused (melted) electrical charge and then fused (melted) to the paper with heatto the paper with heat

Inked ribbon:Inked ribbon: Pins or hammers strike the Pins or hammers strike the ribbon, leaving a mark on the paper ribbon, leaving a mark on the paper behind itbehind it

Impact and Non-ImpactImpact and Non-Impact

Impact printerImpact printer strikes a ribbon physically. strikes a ribbon physically. Only an impact printer is able to print on Only an impact printer is able to print on multi-part forms (such as carbon paper)multi-part forms (such as carbon paper) Inkjet, DaisywheelInkjet, Daisywheel

Non-impact printerNon-impact printer does not use physical does not use physical force to place the image on the page. force to place the image on the page. Multiple copies must be printed Multiple copies must be printed individually.individually. Laser, inkjet, LED, thermal wax transferLaser, inkjet, LED, thermal wax transfer

Paper Feed TypePaper Feed Type

Tractor-fed Tractor-fed (continuous)(continuous)

Sheet-fedSheet-fed

Factors for Evaluating PrintersFactors for Evaluating Printers

Initial costInitial cost Cost of supplies Cost of supplies

Ink, toner, special paperInk, toner, special paper SpeedSpeed

Delay before printing startsDelay before printing starts Pages per minute Pages per minute


Print qualityPrint quality Measured in dots per inch (dpi)Measured in dots per inch (dpi)


InterfaceInterface Parallel, USB, networkParallel, USB, network

Paper trayPaper tray Number of sheets of input, outputNumber of sheets of input, output

Paper feed type (tractor-fed, sheet-fed)Paper feed type (tractor-fed, sheet-fed) Extra RAMExtra RAM Page description language (PDL)Page description language (PDL)

Types of Printer TechnologyTypes of Printer Technology

Daisywheel (obsolete)Daisywheel (obsolete) Dot MatrixDot Matrix InkjetInkjet LaserLaser LEDLED Dye SublimationDye Sublimation Solid InkSolid Ink

DaisywheelDaisywheel

Earliest type of printer, now long obsoleteEarliest type of printer, now long obsolete Rotating wheel containing all the Rotating wheel containing all the

characters for a fontcharacters for a font Tractor-fedTractor-fed ImpactImpact Inked ribbonInked ribbon Single-colorSingle-color Line printerLine printer

Dot MatrixDot Matrix

Improved on daisywheel by making Improved on daisywheel by making multiple fonts possiblemultiple fonts possible

Letters formed by metal pinsLetters formed by metal pins Inked ribbonInked ribbon Tractor-fedTractor-fed ImpactImpact Single-colorSingle-color Line printerLine printer

Dot MatrixDot Matrix

InkjetInkjet

Liquid ink dispensed by nozzles in the Liquid ink dispensed by nozzles in the print headprint head Thermal (bubble jet)Thermal (bubble jet) PiezoelectricPiezoelectric

Sheet-fedSheet-fed Non-impactNon-impact Multi-colorMulti-color Line printerLine printer

LaserLaser

Solid toner dispensed by electrical Solid toner dispensed by electrical chargescharges

Sheet-fedSheet-fed Non-impactNon-impact Single-color or Single-color or

multi-colormulti-color Page printerPage printer

Laser Printing ProcessLaser Printing Process

Step 1: CleaningStep 1: Cleaning Step 2: Charging (Conditioning)Step 2: Charging (Conditioning)


Step 3: WritingStep 3: Writing Step 4: DevelopingStep 4: Developing


Step 5: TransferringStep 5: Transferring Step 6: FusingStep 6: Fusing

Summary of TypesSummary of Types

Dot MatrixDot Matrix InkjetInkjet LaserLaser

InkInk RibbonRibbon LiquidLiquid TonerToner

Paper feedPaper feed Tractor-fedTractor-fed Sheet-fedSheet-fed Sheet-fedSheet-fed

Line or Line or Page Page

LineLine LineLine PagePage

Impact or Impact or Non-ImpactNon-Impact

ImpactImpact Non-impactNon-impact Non-impactNon-impact

ColorColor NoNo YesYes SomeSome

Printer InterfacesPrinter Interfaces Legacy ParallelLegacy Parallel

SPP (Standard SPP (Standard Parallel Port)Parallel Port)

BidirectionalBidirectional EPPEPP ECPECP

USBUSB NetworkNetwork Infrared (rare)Infrared (rare) Legacy serial Legacy serial

(obsolete)(obsolete)

Printer DriversPrinter Drivers

Page Description Languages (PDLs) Page Description Languages (PDLs) translate between PC and printertranslate between PC and printer

Popular PDLs include:Popular PDLs include: Printer Control Panguage (PCL),Printer Control Panguage (PCL),

developed by HP for laser printersdeveloped by HP for laser printers PostScriptPostScript, developed by Adobe for , developed by Adobe for

professional typesettingprofessional typesetting

Installing a Printer Driver in Installing a Printer Driver in WindowsWindows

Windows refers to a driver as a Windows refers to a driver as a “printer”“printer”

You can have more than one driver You can have more than one driver installed for the same printer, installed for the same printer, resulting in multiple “printers” in resulting in multiple “printers” in Windows for a single physical unitWindows for a single physical unit

Installing a Printer Driver in Installing a Printer Driver in WindowsWindows

Run the Add Run the Add Printer WizardPrinter Wizard Let Windows Let Windows

detect the detect the printer, orprinter, or

Choose from a Choose from a listlist

Printer Driver MaintenancePrinter Driver Maintenance

Remove a PrinterRemove a Printer Delete its icon from the Printers (or Printers Delete its icon from the Printers (or Printers

and Faxes) folderand Faxes) folder Set Default PrinterSet Default Printer

Right-click icon and choose Set as DefaultRight-click icon and choose Set as Default View Driver PropertiesView Driver Properties

Right-click icon and choose PropertiesRight-click icon and choose Properties

Laser Printer MaintenanceLaser Printer Maintenance

Wipe out the insideWipe out the inside Run printer’s cleaning sequenceRun printer’s cleaning sequence Adjust toner deliveryAdjust toner delivery Change toner cartridgeChange toner cartridge Change cleaning padChange cleaning pad Clean corona wires Clean corona wires Replace drumReplace drum

Inkjet Printer MaintenanceInkjet Printer Maintenance

Change ink cartridgesChange ink cartridges Run printer’s cleaning sequenceRun printer’s cleaning sequence

Fonts and TypefacesFonts and Typefaces

Resident fonts: built into the printerResident fonts: built into the printer Built-in fonts: Fonts that come with the printerBuilt-in fonts: Fonts that come with the printer Cartridge fonts: Fonts added to the printer via Cartridge fonts: Fonts added to the printer via

a cartridge plugged into it (rare)a cartridge plugged into it (rare) Soft fonts: files in WindowsSoft fonts: files in Windows

Screen fonts: Fonts for displaying onscreenScreen fonts: Fonts for displaying onscreen Printer fonts: Fonts for sending to the printerPrinter fonts: Fonts for sending to the printer


Outline fontsOutline fonts Scaleable to any sizeScaleable to any size Each letter is an outline that can be enlarged Each letter is an outline that can be enlarged

or shrunk and then filled inor shrunk and then filled in TrueType, OpenTypeTrueType, OpenType

Bitmap fontsBitmap fonts Available only in a limited set of sizesAvailable only in a limited set of sizes Each letter is a fully formed graphicEach letter is a fully formed graphic


Serif fonts: Tails on lettersSerif fonts: Tails on letters Easier to read in body textEasier to read in body text Look better in small sizesLook better in small sizes More formal lookMore formal look

Sans-serif fonts: Plain lettersSans-serif fonts: Plain letters Easier to read in headingsEasier to read in headings Look better in large sizesLook better in large sizes More casual lookMore casual look

View Installed Fonts in WindowsView Installed Fonts in Windows

Open Fonts windowOpen Fonts window Double-click a font to see a sample of it in Double-click a font to see a sample of it in

detaildetail

A indicates bitmap font

O indicates OpenType

T indicates TrueType

Install New Fonts in WindowsInstall New Fonts in Windows

1.1. Open Fonts Open Fonts folderfolder

2.2. Choose File > Choose File > Install New Install New FontFont

Print QueuePrint Queue

View print queueView print queue Double-click printer icon in Printers folderDouble-click printer icon in Printers folder

Managing a Print QueueManaging a Print Queue

Pause print queuePause print queue Printer > Pause PrintingPrinter > Pause Printing

Clear print queueClear print queue Printer > Cancel All DocumentsPrinter > Cancel All Documents

Pause an individual print jobPause an individual print job Document > PauseDocument > Pause

Cancel an individual print jobCancel an individual print job Document > Cancel, or press DeleteDocument > Cancel, or press Delete

Managing a Print QueueManaging a Print Queue

Disable the print Disable the print queuequeue View printer’s View printer’s

Properties box, Properties box, click Advanced click Advanced tab, choose Print tab, choose Print Directly to the Directly to the PrinterPrinter

Troubleshooting Printing Troubleshooting Printing ProblemsProblems

Stalled queueStalled queue Pause and resume queue after deleting job Pause and resume queue after deleting job

with errorwith error Junk characters in printoutJunk characters in printout

Power printer offPower printer off Clear queueClear queue Power printer on and try againPower printer on and try again If problem persists, reinstall driverIf problem persists, reinstall driver


Paper jamsPaper jams Fan paper before inserting in trayFan paper before inserting in tray Check feed rollersCheck feed rollers Check for obstructions inside printer (ex. bits Check for obstructions inside printer (ex. bits

of paper)of paper) Use different weight of paperUse different weight of paper


Illegal operation or general protection faultIllegal operation or general protection fault Pause and resume print queuePause and resume print queue Restart computerRestart computer Remove and reinstall printer driverRemove and reinstall printer driver

Laser Quality ProblemsLaser Quality Problems

Printout faint in some spotsPrintout faint in some spots Shake toner cartridge gentlyShake toner cartridge gently Replace toner cartridgeReplace toner cartridge

Loose or smeared tonerLoose or smeared toner Check fuserCheck fuser

Vertical white streaksVertical white streaks Dirty corona wiresDirty corona wires


Gray mistGray mist Dirty corona wiresDirty corona wires Print density set too highPrint density set too high Drum needs replacingDrum needs replacing

Horizontal black linesHorizontal black lines Dirty or damaged rollerDirty or damaged roller

Regularly spaced splotchesRegularly spaced splotches Scratched or dirty drumScratched or dirty drum


All-white pageAll-white page Transfer corona brokenTransfer corona broken Printer is completely out of tonerPrinter is completely out of toner

All-black pageAll-black page Primary corona brokenPrimary corona broken Drum not holding a chargeDrum not holding a charge

Inkjet Quality ProblemsInkjet Quality Problems

Stripes, or one color missingStripes, or one color missing Clean ink jets using printer’s utilityClean ink jets using printer’s utility Run printer’s self-testRun printer’s self-test

Colors off alignmentColors off alignment Run printer’s alignment utilityRun printer’s alignment utility

Dot-Matrix Quality ProblemsDot-Matrix Quality Problems

Flecks and smudgesFlecks and smudges Ribbon is too tightRibbon is too tight

Faint printing overallFaint printing overall Ribbon is worn outRibbon is worn out

Faint printing on one sideFaint printing on one side Platen is misalignedPlaten is misaligned

Missing sections of lettersMissing sections of letters Pins on print head damagedPins on print head damaged