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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 heads are 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.
dithering
A halftoning method in which dots are arranged in an orderly pattern. Dithering works best for printing images with solid colors, such as charts and graphs. See also halftoning.
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 heads. 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.
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.
LCD
Liquid Crystal Display. Shows various messages according to the status of 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 roll paper and 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 95 and 98 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.
SelecType settings
Settings made using the printer's control panel. In SelecType mode, various printer settings that are not available using the printer driver, such as test print settings, can be made.
serial interface
See interface.
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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