Near letter-quality printing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Near letter-quality (NLQ) printing is a process where dot matrix printers produce high-quality text by using multiple passes to produce higher dot density.[1] The tradeoff for the improved print quality is reduced printing speed. Software can also be used to produce this effect.[2][3] The term was coined in the 1980s to distinguish NLQ printing from true letter-quality printing, as produced by a printer based on traditional typewriter technology such as a daisy wheel, or by a laser printer.[4]
In 1985 The New York Times described the marketing of printers with the terms "near letter-quality, or N.L.Q." as "just a neat little bit of hype",[2] but acknowledged that they "really show their stuff in the area of fonts, print enhancements and graphics".