Dot matrix printing

It has been suggested that this article be merged with Dot matrix printer. (Discuss) Proposed since February 2023.

Dot matrix printing

Dot matrix printing,<a href="#cite_note-NYT.dot-1" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 1;">[1]</a> sometimes called impact matrix printing, is a <a href="/en/Computer_printing" title="Computer printing" class="mw-redirect wl">computer printing</a> process in which ink is applied to a surface using a relatively low-resolution <a href="/en/Dot_matrix" title="Dot matrix" class="wl">dot matrix</a> for layout. Dot matrix printers typically use a print head that moves back and forth or in an up-and-down motion on the page and prints by impact, striking an ink-soaked cloth ribbon against the paper, much like the print mechanism on a <a href="/en/Typewriter" title="Typewriter" class="wl">typewriter</a> or <a href="/en/Line_printer" title="Line printer" class="wl">line printer</a>. However, a dot matrix printer is able to print arbitrary patterns and not just specific characters.

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<div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none" about="#mwt5">Computer printing process</div>
<figure class="mw-default-size wiki-thumb"><a href="/en/File:Tally_Dascom_T5040_Passbook_printer.jpg" class="mw-file-description image media-thumb" data-hash="File:Tally_Dascom_T5040_Passbook_printer.jpg"><img loading="lazy"alt="T5040 Dot Matrix Printer" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Tally_Dascom_T5040_Passbook_printer.jpg/220px-Tally_Dascom_T5040_Passbook_printer.jpg" decoding="async" data-file-width="500" data-file-height="400" data-file-type="bitmap" height="176" width="220" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Tally_Dascom_T5040_Passbook_printer.jpg/330px-Tally_Dascom_T5040_Passbook_printer.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Tally_Dascom_T5040_Passbook_printer.jpg/440px-Tally_Dascom_T5040_Passbook_printer.jpg 2x"></a><figcaption>Sample of a Dot Matrix Printer with Passbook Printing capability</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="mw-default-size wiki-thumb"><a href="/en/File:&quot;Delivery&quot;,_printed_in_a_bold,_large_font_on_a_dot_matrix_printer.jpg" class="mw-file-description image media-thumb" data-hash="File:&quot;Delivery&quot;,_printed_in_a_bold,_large_font_on_a_dot_matrix_printer.jpg"><img loading="lazy"alt="The word &quot;Delivery&quot; as output in a bold, large font by a dot matrix receipt printer, as seen under a low-powered microscope" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/%22Delivery%22%2C_printed_in_a_bold%2C_large_font_on_a_dot_matrix_printer.jpg/220px-%22Delivery%22%2C_printed_in_a_bold%2C_large_font_on_a_dot_matrix_printer.jpg" decoding="async" data-file-width="5572" data-file-height="1334" data-file-type="bitmap" height="53" width="220" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/%22Delivery%22%2C_printed_in_a_bold%2C_large_font_on_a_dot_matrix_printer.jpg/330px-%22Delivery%22%2C_printed_in_a_bold%2C_large_font_on_a_dot_matrix_printer.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/%22Delivery%22%2C_printed_in_a_bold%2C_large_font_on_a_dot_matrix_printer.jpg/440px-%22Delivery%22%2C_printed_in_a_bold%2C_large_font_on_a_dot_matrix_printer.jpg 2x"></a><figcaption>Sample output from a dot matrix printer</figcaption></figure>

The perceived quality of dot matrix printers depends on the vertical and horizontal resolution and the ability of the printer to overlap adjacent dots. 9-pin and 24-pin are common; this specifies the number of pins in a specific vertically aligned space. With 24-pin printers, the horizontal movement can slightly overlap dots, producing visually superior output (<a href="/en/Near_letter-quality_printing" title="Near letter-quality printing" class="wl">near letter quality</a> or NLQ), usually at the cost of speed.

Dot matrix printing is typically distinguished from non-impact methods, such as <a href="/en/Inkjet_printer" title="Inkjet printer" class="mw-redirect wl">inkjet</a>, <a href="/en/Thermal_printer" title="Thermal printer" class="mw-redirect wl">thermal</a>, or <a href="/en/Laser_printing" title="Laser printing" class="wl">laser printing</a>, though they too may use a <a href="/en/Bitmap" title="Bitmap" class="wl">bitmap</a> to represent the printed work. It is also able to employ endless printing using <a href="/en/Continuous_paper" title="Continuous paper" class="mw-redirect wl">continuous paper</a> fanfolded with perforations for each page to be easily torn from each other.

Dot matrix printing, sometimes called impact matrix printing, is a computer printing process in which ink is applied to a surface using a relatively low-resolution dot matrix for layout. Dot matrix printers typically use a print head that moves back and forth or in an up-and-down motion on the page and prints by impact, striking an ink-soaked cloth ribbon against the paper, much like the print mechanism on a typewriter or line printer. However, a dot matrix printer is able to print arbitrary patterns and not just specific characters. The perceived quality of dot matrix printers depends on the vertical and horizontal resolution and the ability of the printer to overlap adjacent dots. 9-pin and 24-pin are common; this specifies the number of pins in a specific vertically aligned space. With 24-pin printers, the horizontal movement can slightly overlap dots, producing visually superior output , usually at the cost of speed. Dot matrix printing is typically distinguished from non-impact methods, such as inkjet, thermal, or laser printing, though they too may use a bitmap to represent the printed work. It is also able to employ endless printing using continuous paper fanfolded with perforations for each page to be easily torn from each other. 