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Glossary

The following definitions apply specifically to printers.

application

A software program that helps you carry out a particular task, such as word processing or financial planning.

ASCII

American Standard Code for Information Interchange. A standardized coding system for assigning numerical codes to letters and symbols.

banding

The horizontal lines that sometimes appear when printing graphics. This occurs when the print head is misaligned. See also MicroWeave.

bit

A binary digit (0 or 1), which is the smallest unit of information used by a printer or computer.

brightness

The lightness or darkness of an image.

buffer

The portion of the printer's memory used to store data before printing it.

byte

A unit of information consisting of eight bits.

characters per inch (cpi)

A measure of the size of text characters, sometimes referred to as pitch.

CMYK

Cyan (blue-green), magenta, yellow, and black. These colored inks are used to create the subtractive system array of printed color.

color matching

A method of processing color data so that colors displayed on a computer screen closely match colors in printouts. A variety of color-matching software is available. See also ColorSync and sRGB.

ColorSync

Macintosh software that is designed so you get WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) color output. This software prints colors as you see them on your screen.

cpi

See characters per inch.

default

A value or setting that takes effect when the equipment is turned on, reset, or initialized.

DMA

Direct Memory Access. A data transfer feature that by-passes a computer's CPU and allows direct communication between the computer's memory and peripheral devices (such as printers).

dot matrix

A method of printing in which each letter or symbol is formed by a pattern (matrix) of individual dots.

dpi

Dots per inch. The dpi measures the resolution. See also resolution.

drive

A memory device, such as CD-ROM, hard disk, or floppy disk. In Windows, a letter is assigned to each drive for easy management.

driver

A software program that sends instructions to a computer peripheral to tell it what to do. For example, your printer driver accepts print data from your word processor application and sends instructions to the printer on how to print this data.

economy printing

Printing in which images are printed with fewer dots to save ink.

error diffusion

Error diffusion blends individual colored dots with the colors of the surrounding dots to create the appearance of natural colors. By blending colored dots, the printer can achieve excellent colors and subtle color gradation. This method is best suited for printing documents that contain detailed graphics or photographic images.

ESC/P

Abbreviation for Epson Standard Code for Printers. This system of commands gives you control of your printer from your computer. It is standard for all EPSON printers and supported by most application programs for personal computers.

ESC/P Raster

A command language that gives you control of your printer from your computer. Commands in this language produce laser-like features, such as enhanced graphics printing.

Finest detail

This printer driver setting automatically makes your printout sharper and clearer, especially for text. Be aware that this may increase the time required for printing.

font

A style of type designated by a family name.

grayscale

A scale of shades of gray from black to white. Grayscale is used to represent colors when printing with black ink only.

halftones

Patterns of black or colored dots used to reproduce an image.

halftoning

Method of using dot patterns to represent an image. Halftoning makes it possible to produce varying shades of gray using only black dots, or a nearly infinite array of colors using only a few colors of dots. See also halftones.

head alignment

The operation to correct any misalignment of the print head. Vertical banding will be corrected.

head cleaning

The operation to clean any clogged nozzles for correct printing.

high speed printing

Printing in which images are printed in both directions. This provides faster printing.

ICM (Image Color Matching)

The color matching method used by Windows Me, 98, 95, and 2000 to match the colors in your printout with the colors displayed on your screen.

initialization

Returns the printer to its defaults (fixed set of conditions). This happens every time you turn on the printer or reset the printer.

ink cartridge

A cartridge that contains ink.

ink jet

A method of printing in which each letter or symbol is formed by precisely spraying ink onto paper.

interface

The connection between the computer and the printer. A parallel interface transmits data one character or code at a time. A serial interface transmits data one bit at a time.

interface cable

The cable that connects the computer and the printer.

local printer

The printer which is connected to the computer's port directly by interface cable.

media

Materials upon which data is printed, such as cut sheets, plain paper, and special paper.

memory

The part of the printer's electronic system that is used to store information (data). Some information is fixed and is used to control how the printer operates. Information that is sent to the printer from the computer is stored in the memory temporarily. See also RAM and ROM.

MicroWeave

Printing in which images are printed in finer increments to reduce the possibility of banding and to produce laser-like images. See also banding.

monochrome

This means printing with only one color of ink, which is generally black ink.

nozzle

Fine tubes in the print head through which ink is sprayed on the page. Print quality may decline if the print head nozzles are clogged.

nozzle check

A method for checking the operation of the printer. When you perform a nozzle check, the printer prints the firmware (ROM) version and a nozzle check pattern.

online help

Helpful comments related to the current window or dialog box.

parallel interface

See interface.

Peer-to-peer networks

Windows 98, 95 and Windows NT 4.0 support peer-to-peer networking. Any computer can access the resources of a computer on the network.

PhotoEnhance4

The EPSON software to change the shade of tone, correct image data, and change the sharpness of the image data.

port

An interface channel through which data is transmitted between devices.

printable area

The area of a page on which the printer can print. It is smaller than the physical size of the page due to margins.

printer driver

A software program that sends commands for using the features of a particular printer. Often shortened to "driver". See also driver.

printing mode

The number of dots per inch used to represent an image. Your printer has three printing mode settings: SuperFine (1440 dpi), Fine (720 dpi), and Normal (360 dpi).

print queue

If your printer is connected to a network, print jobs that are sent to the printer while it is busy are stored in a waiting line, or print queue, until they can be printed.

Progress Meter

A meter that shows the progress of the current print job for Windows.

RAM

Random Access Memory. The portion of the printer's memory used as a buffer and for storing user-defined characters. All data stored in RAM is lost when the printer is turned off.

reset

To return a printer to its defaults by turning the printer off and then back on.

resolution

The number of dots per inch used to represent an image.

ROM

Read Only Memory. A portion of memory that can only be read and cannot be used for data storage. ROM retains its contents when you turn off the printer.

RGB

Red, green, and blue. These colors, in phosphors irradiated by the computer monitor's electron gun, are used to create the additive array of screen colors.

spool

The first step in printing, in which the printer driver converts the print data into codes that your printer understands. This data is then sent to the printer directly or to the print server.

Spool Manager

The software program that converts print data into codes that your printer understands. See also spool.

sRGB

Windows software that is designed so you get WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) color output. This software prints colors as you see them on your screen.

Status Monitor

The software program that allows you to check the printer's status.

subtractive colors

Colors produced by pigments that absorb some colors of light and reflect others. See also CMYK.

utility

A program for carrying out a specific function, which is usually related to system maintenance.

WYSIWYG

Acronym for What You See Is What You Get. This term is used to describe printouts that look exactly as they appear on screen.

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