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Dot matrix printing
Computer printing process / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Dot matrix printing,[1] sometimes called impact matrix printing, is a computer printing process in which ink is applied to a surface using a relatively low-resolution dot matrix for layout. Dot matrix printers are a type of impact printer that prints using a fixed number of pins or wires[2][3] and typically use a print head that moves back and forth or in an up-and-down motion on the page and prints by impact, striking an ink-soaked cloth ribbon against the paper. They were also known as serial dot matrix printers.[4] Unlike typewriters or line printers that use a similar print mechanism, a dot matrix printer can print arbitrary patterns and not just specific characters.
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![The word "Delivery" as output in a bold, large font by a dot matrix receipt printer, as seen under a low-powered microscope](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/%22Delivery%22%2C_printed_in_a_bold%2C_large_font_on_a_dot_matrix_printer.jpg/640px-%22Delivery%22%2C_printed_in_a_bold%2C_large_font_on_a_dot_matrix_printer.jpg)
The perceived quality of dot matrix printers depends on the vertical and horizontal resolution and the ability of the printer to overlap adjacent dots. 9-pin and 24-pin are common; this specifies the number of pins in a specific vertically aligned space. With 24-pin printers, the horizontal movement can slightly overlap dots, producing visually superior output (near letter quality or NLQ), usually at the cost of speed.
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Indian_railway_suburban_rail_ticket.jpg/640px-Indian_railway_suburban_rail_ticket.jpg)
Dot matrix printing is typically distinguished from non-impact methods, such as inkjet, thermal, or laser printing, which also use a bitmap to represent the printed work. These other technologies can support higher dot resolutions and print more quickly, with less noise. Unlike other technologies, impact printers can print on multi-part forms, allowing multiple copies to be made simultaneously, often on paper of different colors.[5] They can also employ endless printing using continuous paper fanfolded with perforations so pages can be easily torn from each other.