To understand a wide format printer, it helps to start with an understanding of the different types of print technologies used by these large devices. Contrary to what some may think, these oversized wide format printers are not that much different from their narrow format office printer counterparts.

Read below to understand the key print technologies that are used on today's most popular wide format printers.

Wide Format Printing Technologies

Which is best? There is really no best technology as it depends on what type of printing you do, but there are two common wide format printing technologies used with black & white printers and one with color printers. Black & white wide format printers use some form of electrophotography technology which was originally invented in 1938, with its first primary application being used on copy machines. This print technology uses electrostatic charges, toner, which is the powder that forms the printed images on the paper, and light. To create a printed image, a coated photoconductive drum is positively charged, using a laser or LEDs, a negative of the image is beamed onto a drum, cancelling the charge and leaving a positively charged replica of the original image. A negatively charged toner is attracted to the positive image on the drum. The toner is then attracted to the paper, which is also positively charged. The final stage is fusing, which uses heat and/or pressure, causing the toner to permanently adhere to the paper.

One of the key differences in the application of electrophotography technology is at the final fusing stage. Technologies today use either a hot fuser roller or radiant fusing to apply the image to the paper. During the radiant fusing process, the toner is fused to the media by heat rising from a grid of heating elements. The toner melts and is fused to the media without distorting the image or requiring any direct pressure. Because there are no pressure rollers to heat, printers using radiant fusing technology maintain a lower operating temperature. The fusing section heats up quickly to fuse the toner to the media and cools quickly when the task is complete. Once print jobs are completed, radiant fusing printers go into a "sleep mode” and draw minimum power, allowing them to earn the U.S. Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR® designation.

On the other hand, wide format printers with hot pressure rollers press the image to the media. These printers require a lubricant on the fuser rollers to prevent the print from sticking to the roller. This lubricant is usually silicone oil, which can leave a residue on the print. Pressure rollers tend to smash the toner into the media, which can blur the printed image. Wide format printers using this technology tend to run hotter and consume more energy, especially when in sleep mode.

Regardless of the type of print technology, look for wide format printers that are capable of printing sizes between 11"–36" and image resolution ranging from 400 dots per inch (dpi) and higher.

To learn more about wide format color and black and white printing, download the Free Wide Format Printer Buyer's Guide.

Resource Center Home Choosing A Wide Format Printer