Glossary for Copier Terms,  Printer Terms and Paper Terms

AFP
AFP stands for "Advanced Function Presentation." It is a hardware & software architecture and a language that
describes text & graphics. It is understood by many printers that are used in mainframe environments. It was invented
by IBM.  AFP is also known as "AFPDS ("Advanced Function Presentation Data Stream").

AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE CONTROL
Automatically adjusts the amount of light necessary to properly expose the selected original. (i.e.: colored paper, poor
quality original)

ANALOG COPIER
Lens and mirrors are the components of the conventional analog copier that transfers the scanned image to a
photoconductor. The mirrors direct the light through the lens and then to the drum.

AUTOMATIC DOCUMENT FEEDER (ADF)
A device that holds a stack of originals and feeds them automatically, one at a time to the exposure glass for
scanning/copying.

AUTOMATIC START
Allows the user to enter copy functions/commands during the warm-up period. After warm-up is completed, copying will
begin automatically.

BATES STAMPING
Primarily used in legal applications, Bates Stamping is the numbering of the legal documents. This was done by hand in
the past with a numbering machine manufactured by the Bates Manufacturing Company. The numbers on the
documents came to be known by the name of the company and "Bates Stamping" came to mean the process of placing
the "Bates Numbers" on the pages. When large numbers of documents are involved, this can be done automatically by
printers or during the scanning process.

CONTINUOUS COPIES
Ability to make copy after copy without the operator having to press the start key at the end of each copy cycle. The
number of continuous copies, varies by model.

CONTINUOUS MODE
Enables copier to continue producing photocopies until it runs out of paper.

COPY SIZE
Both the minimum and maximum copy area, and paper size that the copier can utilize.

CONSOLE COPIER
The dimensions , weight or design of these units prohibit desktop support; consequently, these units are free standing
and feature built-in consoles.

CPM
Copies Per Minute.

DESKTOP COPIER
The dimensions , weight or design of these units allow them t be supported by a desk or optional stand.

DEVELOPER
The substance that carries the toner in the developer unit. Through the friction of the developer the toner particles are
charged, which will cause attraction to the oppositely charged drum.

DEVELOPMENT
Process by which toner is applied to the image on the photoconductor drum.

DIGITAL COPIER
Digital copiers scan and digitize originals before reproducing them (as opposed to using the analogue "light lens"
method) essentially, they are converting images to computerized data.  All multifunctional copiers are digital, though not
all digital copiers are multifunctional.

Digital copiers use an array of sensors that scan the image of a document and prepare it for digital processing.  
Scanner can utilize two types of scanning technologies, CCD (charge-coupled device) or CIS (contact image sensor).  
A CCD scanner uses a series of mirrors and a lens to move the image onto a light-sensitive CCD chip, while a CIS
scanner uses a single row of LED sensor that are positioned a millimeter or two below the document along the full width
of the scanner.

DJDE
Dynamic Job Descriptor Entry (DJDE) is a production printer language developed by Xerox Corporation primarily to
map data to forms. It combines print data stream specification, variable data printing and forms development. The
output is targeted at Xerox laser printers. Resources, including forms, fonts, graphics and logos were developed with a
variety of tools provided by many different companies. These were stored at the printer. When the print data stream
was sent from the host to the printer, commands in the data stream referenced resources stored at the printer. The
printers were generally directly connected to the host computer usually via Channel.

DRUM
The heart of a copier on which the image is formed. It consists of an aluminum core with multiple layers of light and
charge sensitive material such as selenium, or an organic based material.

DUPLEX
Duplexing is the process of printing, copying or scanning images on both sides of a piece of paper.

ELECTRONIC SORTING (E-SORT)
Sorting is done in an internal document tray so no external trays

ENERGY SAVE MODE
An energy conserving feature where after copying and a preset time period, the copier automatically goes into a
standby mode in which partial fusing heat is maintained so that a full warm-up period is not necessary for the next copy
job.

ENLARGEMENT
Ability to increase the size of the image of the original on a photocopy.

EPS
Encapsulated Post Script, a known file format usually used to transfer post script information from one program to
another.

FIRST COPY TIME
Time required from when the start key is pressed to the time the first copy arrives at the exit tray.

FUSING
Process used to permanently affix the toner particles to the copy paper. Most commonly, heat and pressure applied by
a heat lamp inside two rollers.

IMPOSITION
Imposition is the process of
* modifying the position, orientation, and printing order of the individual pages in a document, and
* grouping collections of individual pages together on larger sheets of paper or film
so that the pages are arranged properly for printing on a particular printing press and for binding with a particular
binding system.

IPDS
IPDS stands for "Intelligent Printer Data Streams." It is a language that contains the information necessary to identify,
monitor, and control the functions of certain kinds of printers that are used in mainframe environments. This information
includes the characteristics of the printer, its resolution, what resources it has, whether it has sufficient memory, and
whether it receives and prints a job.

IFPDS was invented by IBM. It is part of IBM's AFP architecture.

MANUAL BYPASS
Allows the user to copy on to different paper stock, without changing paper cassettes or trays. Also used for two-sided
copying.

MAXIMUM ORIGINAL SIZE
Largest original that can be placed on the glass and copied.

MAXIMUM COPY SIZE
Largest size paper that can be put through the machine.

MAXIMUM / MINIMUM PAPER WEIGHTS
Paper weights that are recommended for use in the copier.

METACODE
Metacode is a language that describes text & graphics and is understood by many Xerox printers, some current OCE
and Heidelberg printers.  Metacode is the standard print language of Xerox LPS printers.

MULTI-COPY
Greatest number of copies that the copier can be programmed to produce, from one original. Note: differs by model.

MULTI-COPY SPEED
Number of copies per minute produced from one original in a continuous run after the first copy exits. This is also the
maximum copy output speed of the machine.

NIC
NIC stands for “Network Interface Card”.  A NIC allows a digital copier or printer to become a network printer.

OCR
OCR stands for "Optical Character Recognition." It is a computerized process that enables you to convert a paper
document into a computer file that you can search and manipulate using a word processor.

An OCR system reads text from paper, translates the images of letters, numbers, punctuation marks, etc. into a text-
based form, and creates a computer file that contains the translated information. The computer file that gets created
contains fonts and ASCII codes.

All OCR systems include a machine called a "scanner." This is a device with a clear glass surface on it and a camera
inside it. You put a document face-down on the glass and the camera inside the scanner takes a picture of the
document and stores that picture in the form of a bitmap file (also known as an "image file"). Then, the OCR software in
your computer uses its intelligence to examine the patterns of dots in the image file and creates a file that contains text
that is represented as fonts and ASCII codes.

With most OCR systems, the image file that is created by the scanner is discarded after the final file (the file containing
the fonts and ASCII codes) has been created.

OFFSET PRINTING  
A method of printing in which the image on the plate is transferred to the final substrate via an intermediate surface.

OPTICS
Lens and Mirrors: These are the components of the conventional analog copier that convey the scanned image from
the glass to the photoconductor drum. The mirrors direct the light through the lens (for focusing or magnification) to the
drum.

PAPER CAPACITY
Maximum amount of paper, copier can store in the paper tray.

PAPER TRAY
Removable cassette, where blank paper is stored for copying.

PAPER TERMS
BRIGHTNESS - In relation to paper quality, this provides a measurement of the luminosity and degree of whiteness of a
sheet. It is expressed as a percentage representing the proportion of light reflected compared to the amount of light
emitted.
CALIPER - The distance between one surface of a paper and the other.  It is measured in micrometers.
CARBONLESS COPY PAPER - This consists of two sheets of paper; the underside of the top sheet is coated with
colorless dye in minute gelatin capsules; the underneath sheet is coated with a reactive chemical which turns blue or
black when mixed with the colorless dye; pressure from a pen or typewriter on the top sheet causes the gelatin
capsules to break, the dye and chemical mix and the blue or black copy appears on the bottom sheet.
COATED PAPER - Special type of paper which has undergone a specific surface treatment to give it a good
smoothness. In general it is covered with a thin layer of clay or chalk which gives it a better printing quality and avoids
the fuzziness that is associated with some papers.
CUT SIZES - Paper sizes used with office machines and small presses.
GLOSS - Gloss can refer to the reflectivity of paper itself or of the printed result on it. Gloss of paper is measured by
using a Gardner gloss meter, which measures reflected light at an angle of 75°, and is expressed in Gardner gloss
units - the higher the number, the glossier the paper surface.
GRAIN  - The fibers in a web of paper naturally take up an alignment roughly parallel to the direction of travel of the
web on the paper making machine; this becomes the grain direction. When cut, the paper’s grain direction may be
parallel either to the long edge of the finished sheet (when it is called long grain) or the short edge (short grain).
Papers are normally stocked in long grain form, short grain being supplied to special order. The grain direction affects
the stiffness in a particular dimension and must be taken into account when planning a job which needs to be folded, as
paper usually folds easier with the grain.
NCR - No Carbon Required. This expression, which was introduced by the National Cash Register company (which
formerly owned the patents), has now been superseded by the term Carbonless (q.v.).
OPACITY - The extent to which a paper is capable of obscuring matter printed on the verso or on an underlying page
or other surface.
PERFECTING - Printing both sides of the substrate at the same pass through a printing machine.
REAM  - A unit of measurement for sheets of paper; normally 500.
SIZING  - This process can either be applied on the surface of the sheet or in the sheet: in the first case starch is
applied to the surface to increase its strength and to resist the penetration of oil-based inks (this process is carried out
at the size press, which is about two-thirds of the way down the dry end); in the second case chemicals are added to
the stock at the pulping stage before the sheet is formed: this is called internal or engine sizing and its purpose is to
stop penetration of water-based inks into the sheet.
SMOOTHNESS - The surface smoothness of paper is measured by the Bendtsen smoothness test. Also know as
Sheffield.  The test measures the amount of air escaping between an annular ring and the material surface, and results
are measured in ml/min. Papers having a value higher than 50 are usually referred to as Matt, below 50 as Silk
(sometimes called Satin or Velvet).
VELLUM PAPER  - Vellum paper - strong, tough and of high class appearance - is made to imitate the fine smooth
finish of a parchment made from animal skin. Vellum paper is often used for certificates.


PAPER SIZE
US and Canada Paper Size (Inches)
Invoice         5 1/2 x 8 1/2
Letter         8 1/2 x 11
Legal         8 1/2 x 14
Ledger         11 x 17

PCL
PCL stands for "Printer Control Language." PCL was invented by Hewlett-Packard Corporation, and it is a language
that is used for describing the text and graphics in documents. Technically, PCL is known as a "page-description
language."  Because PCL was invented by Hewlett-Packard Corporation, it is also known as "HP-PCL."  Files that
contain documents described in the PCL language are normally called "PCL files"; hence, PCL is known as a file format
as well as a language.

PDF
PDF stands for Portable Document Format. It is a file format that describes the text and graphics in documents. It was
invented by Adobe Systems Incorporated.  Because it describes the text and graphics in documents, PDF is considered
to be a page-description language. Note, however, that PDF is quite different from other page-description languages
(such as PostScript and PCL) because — unlike other page-description languages — PDF can do much more than
simply describe the appearance of a document. Software that supports PDF viewing (such as the Adobe Acrobat
software) understands the PDF format.

PDL
A page-description language (PDL) is a computer language that describes the text and graphics in a document.
Printers and RIPs  understand page-description languages.  There are only a few page-description languages that are
in widespread use today. Perhaps the best-known page-description languages are:
·        AFP (invented by IBM)
·        PCL (invented by Hewlett-Packard Corporation)
·        PDF (invented by Adobe Systems Incorporated)
·        PostScript (also invented by Adobe Systems Incorporated)
Usually, AFP, PostScript, or PCL is used when you are printing a document on paper; and PDF is used when you want
a file that can be viewed on the screen by using 1) the Adobe Acrobat software, 2) a Web browser that is capable of
displaying PDF files, or 3) some other software application that lets you view PDF files. However, you can also print
PDF files on paper; and these days, more and more people are generating PDF output (as opposed to AFP, PCL, or
PostScript output) for printing hard-copy documents.

PHOTO MODE
The ability of the copier to copy halftones or photographs more clearly

PLATEN
The platen (or exposure glass) is the plate of glass upon which the original is placed for copying. There are two types
of platens:

MOVING
The platen moves from side to side, carrying the original over the optics. Copiers with moving platens usually have
speeds of less than 20 copies per minute. (Z-52II/57II)

STATIONARY
The platen remains stationary while an internal scanning device moves from side to side to copy the original. This
feature usually makes a machine physically larger but gives user the option of adding a document feeder, which cannot
be used on a copier with a moving platen.

Note: When determining the amount of space needed for a copier, the user must take into account whether or not, they
need to allow extra room for the moving platen.

PPML
PPML stands for Personalized Print Markup Language.  PPML is an XML-based language for variable-data printing.  
PPML was developed by The Digital Printing Initiative (PODi).  PODi, formerly known as the Print On Demand Initiative,
is a not-for-profit multi-vendor initiative that's working to develop the market for digital printing.

POSTSCRIPT
PostScript is a language that is used for describing the text and graphics in documents. PostScript was invented by
Adobe Systems Incorporated. Technically, PostScript is known as a "page-description language."  Files that contain
documents described in the PostScript language are normally called "PostScript files"; hence, PostScript is known as a
file format as well as a language.  Most laser printers and imagesetters understand the PostScript language. The
Adobe Acrobat Distiller software also understands the PostScript language.

RASTERIZATION
Rasterization is the process of converting code that describes text and graphics into the format that is required by a
printer's "print engine," which is the machinery that actually puts marks on a page.  Rasterization is performed by a
"raster image processor," also known as a RIP.  With some systems, the RIP is a computer that is inside the printer
itself. If you print your documents on a desktop printer such as a Hewlett Packard LaserJet or a Lexmark Optra, your
RIP is probably inside the printer.  With other systems, the RIP is separate from the printer. For example, if your
company uses a Xerox DocuTech printer, the RIP is probably a software program that runs on a Unix computer or a
Windows computer that is separate from but connected to the printer.  The code that gets converted (i.e., rasterized) is
known as "page-description-language code."

REDUCTION
Function which allows the operator to decrease the size of the image on the copy paper.

RIP
RIP stands for "Raster Image Processor." A RIP is a device or a software program that converts page-description-
language code to the format required by the print engine in a printer or imagesetter. (The print engine is the machinery
that actually makes marks on a page.)

SCAN ONCE PRINT MANY (SOPM)
Single scan systems scans the document once and prints multiple copies.

SINGLE DOCUMENT FEEDER (SPF)
The document must be manually pulled through the feed mechanism each time a copy is needed.

SORTER
A device which is added to the copier for use when producing collated copies.

TONER
Plastic-carbon based substance that forms the image on the paper. Toner is part of a mono-component, or dual-
component developing system. It has the appearance of a dry powder.

VARIABLE DATA PRINTING
"Variable-data printing" is a form of on-demand printing in which all the documents in a print run are similar but not
identical. For example, if you are printing personalized letters to be mailed to your customers, each document probably
has the same basic layout, but there is a different customer name and address on each letter.

When you use your word-processing software to do a mail merge, you are doing a simple form of variable-data printing.

These days, variable-data printing can go far beyond printing different names and addresses on a document. There
are systems that let you insert different graphics into a document, change the layout and/or the number of pages, print
a unique bar code on each document, use color extensively. . . and more.

The concept of creating variable-data documents has been extended to non-paper documents such as PDF
documents and HTML documents. The term "variable-data printing and publishing" (or just "variable-data publishing")
encompasses both paper documents and on-line documents.
Variable-data printing and publishing is known by several other names. Some of them are:
* personalized printing
* personalized publishing
* personalization
* customized printing
* customized publishing
* database publishing
* one-to-one (1:1) communication
* one-to-one (1:1) publishing.

Because variable-data printing/publishing systems are often used to create documents for promoting and selling
products & services, the terms
* direct marketing
* one-to-one (1:1) marketing
are often used in connection with variable-data printing/publishing technology.

WARM-UP TIME
Amount of time required for the copier to become operable after being switched on.

XML
"XML" stands for "Extensible Markup Language. You can think of XML as a method for describing information so that
computers (and humans) can understand it easily.

ZOOM
"Zoom" reduction or enlargement modes may be selected by the operator in 1% increments. Magnification percentages
(+/-) typically range from 65% to 155%.

Copiergeeks.com
An Ascher Group, LLC company
3624 Highlands Ranch Parkway
Suite 205-133
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
(866)683-1994
info@copiergeeks.com
Privacy Policy