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Printing technology refers to the method a printer uses to create images on paper. The most common technologies include inkjet printing, laser printing and thermal transfer printing. Inkjet printers work by spraying tiny droplets of ink onto the paper, while laser printers use toner and static electricity to transfer the image to the paper. Thermal transfer printers use a heated print head to transfer the image to the paper via a special ribbon. Each technology has its own strengths and weaknesses and is suitable for different applications.

The number of colours a printer can produce is determined by the number of colour cartridges it can use. Basic inkjet printers typically use four colours (black, cyan, magenta and yellow) to produce a wide range of colours through a process called dithering. However, some high-end printers may use additional inks, such as lighter versions of cyan and magenta, or specialty inks such as red, green, or gray, to achieve a greater color range and better detail when printing photographs and artwork.

Print resolution is another key specification for printers that affects print quality. This resolution, also measured in DPI, refers to the number of dots of ink the printer produces per square inch. Higher resolutions provide greater detail and sharpness in printing, but may require more ink and longer print times. For regular documents, 600 DPI is usually sufficient, while 1200 DPI or higher may be more appropriate for printing photos or graphics.

The resolution of a flatbed scanner, usually given in DPI (dots per inch) units, is a critical parameter for the quality of the scanned image. Higher resolution means greater detail and sharpness of the image, which is especially important for scanning photographs or fine detail. On the other hand, higher resolution can lead to longer scan times and larger files. A resolution of 1200 DPI is often sufficient for most applications, while professional jobs may require up to 2400 DPI or more.

The paper is available in a wide range of standard formats that vary in size. These formats have been established by international standards organisations such as the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). The most common standard is the ISO A series, which includes formats A0 to A10. This system is based on the principle that each successive format is half the size of the previous one. For example, A1 is half the size of A0, A2 is half the size of A1, and so on. A4 is the most commonly used format, especially for printing documents and letters. Larger sizes, such as A3, are often used for printing posters or larger documents.