Printing 101: Desktop Printers Versus Commercial Printers
Question: What is the difference between a desktop printer and a commercial printer?
Answer: One is a machine, while the other is a business.
1. The Printer as a Machine
When you read an article that refers to a desktop printer, the author is writing of a piece of hardware.
Desktop printers consist of a high quality image printing system, which uses a laser beam to produce an image onto a photosensitive drum. The image is transferred to paper by a conventional xerographic printing process.
A desktop printer is connected to an office network or PC and provides printed documents after a digital file has been sent to the network and the image is printed to paper.
2. The Printer as a Business
The commercial printer is a printing business run by a staff of printing professionals. While the commercial printer could possibly own several page printers (laser or inkjet machines) for digital printing, the business does the bulk of its printing services using a web or sheet fed printing press.
Depending on the type of print job, a commercial printer will require special file preparation since different printing processes affect how the digital files need to be prepared.
The Controversy
When you read an article that tells you to “talk to your printer” it’s safe to assume the writer is suggesting that you should speak to a printing professional about your print project. Likewise, if you’re told to “send a document to your printer” it should be apparent by reading the entire article whether they mean your desktop printer or to consult with a commercial printing business. If you’re uncertain, after reading the article, contact the writer for additional guidance.
Printing Terms:
Lithography - a printing process based on the principle of the natural aversion of water to grease. The photographically prepared printing plate, when being made, is treated chemically so the image will accept ink and reject water.
Offset Lithography - (see Lithography) a printing method whereby the image is transferred from a plate onto a rubber covered cylinder from which the printing takes place.
Page Printer - the more general (and accurate) name used to describe non-impact printers that produce a complete page in one action. Examples include laser, LED and LCD shutter xerographic printers, ion deposition, electro-erosion and electro-photographic printers.
Sheet Fed - a printing press that prints single sheets of paper, not reels.
Xerography - a photocopying/printing process in which the image is formed using the electrostatic charge principle. The toner replaces ink and can be dry or liquid. Once formed, the image is sealed by heat. Most page printers (desktop) currently use this method of printing.
Web - a printing press that prints on a continous roll of printing paper, not sheets.
— Printing Primer © The Desktop Publishing Company Ltd
