Glossary of Terms

DPI - Acronym for Dots Per (square) Inch or addressable Dots Per Inch

Drum - Usually refers to an optical photo conductor (see OPC)

Duplex - To print on both sides (auto-duplex is to automatically print on both sides)

Four-pass - Refers to color laser print engines that require four imaging passes in order to produce a single color page (usually equates to slow and noisy color printing)

Fuser - Usually refers to printer’s fusing unit

GDI - Acronym for Graphic Device Interface which is another term for host-based Language (commonly found in the least expensive printers)

Ink-jet - Non-impact dot matrix printing technology using liquid ink droplets

IPM - Acronym for Images per Minute (usually refers to scanning speeds)

Laser - Non-impact page printing engine type using electro-static toner and xerographic technology with optics and a laser light source

LED - Non-impact page printing engine type using electro-static toner and xerographic technology with LED (Light Emitting Diode) light source

OPC - Acronym for Optical Photo Conductor (also referred to as a drum, imaging unit, or print cartridge)

PCL - Acronym for Printer Control Language (indicates compatibility with specific HP printers as in PCL4, PCL5, PCL5c, and PCL6)

Postscript - The printer control language, owned by Adobe, that is the industry standard for most types of printing and publishing (usually found in higher end printers)

PPI - Acronym for Pixels Per Inch (usually refers to scanner or monitor resolution)

PPM - Acronym for Pages Per Minute (usually refers to laser or led print speeds)

Single-pass - Refers to color laser print engines that requires just one imaging pass in order to produce a single color page (usually equates to faster color printing)

SOHO - Acronym for Small Office Home Office

Solid ink - Non-impact dot matrix printing technology using molten wax-ink droplets (currently used on select Xerox models)

Toner - Main imaging supply used by xerographic copiers and printers. Electro-statically charged particles fused to paper to create an image