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Glossary of Photocopier Terms
Acceptable originals Usually defines the size of the object being copied. This could vary from a 3-D object to a plain sheet of A4 paper.
ADF Automatic document feeder. The ADF is used to copy multiple-page documents without the need to manually load each page. Also see RADF
ADU Automatic Duplexing Unit - automatic double-sided copying.
All-In-Ones See MFDs
Analogue A method of producing a copy via use of reflecting light. Used in older copiers.
Batch transmission Usually a fax option. Documents can be scanned and sent to multiple other faxes.
Catch Tray The tray that collects the output copies.
CMYK See Four Colour Printing
Consumables Parts of a machine that need to be replenished, e.g. toner
Copy size The size of the paper that the copier outputs. Photocopiers may have different cassettes holding different paper sizes.
Copy Speed The speed of production for the copier once it has run through the first copy. Usually in CPM (copies per minute)
Counter The counter will keep a numerical record of the number of copies produced.
CPM Copies per minute. See Copy Speed.
CPU Central Processing Unit. Also known as the "Processor", this is the component in a digital device that interprets instructions and processes data.
DADF Duplex and Automatic Document Feeder. This feeder can handle double-sided documents. It will automatically copy one side and then reverse the document to copy the other.
Data compression Data compression or source coding is the process of encoding information using fewer bits than an unencoded representation would require, through the use of specific encoding schemes.
Delayed transmission Usually a fax option. Documents can be scanned and sent at a later time.
Digital A signal that comprises of two states. Usually coded to represent values.
DNS Domain Name System A system that serves as a type of " phone book" for the internet.
Document Management A method of storing and managing documents electronically; a step towards the "paperless office"
DPI Dots Per Inch. See resolution.
Driver A computer programme that allows other computer programmes to interact with a hardware device. They are usually OS-specific.
Duplex The ability to automatically print on both sides of a page.
Exposure control An exposure control device for a copier includes a microcomputer which automatically varies the exposure sequentially in a stepwise fashion. The copier performs copying operation in correspondence with the timing of this variation in exposure. The user need only press a print button once to obtain a copy or copies with exposure changed in stepwise fashion.
FAX Facsimile
First time copy The time taken for the first page to be copied.
Four Colour Printing Using the four colours cyan, magenta, yellow and black to produce all other colours. Otherwise known as CMYK.
FTP File Transfer Protocol is used to transfer data from one computer to another over the Internet, or through a network.
Full bleed An image that prints right to the edge of a sheet with no borders.
GDI Graphics Device Interface A Microsoft Windows interface for representing graphical objects and transmitting them to output devices such as monitors and printers.
Graduation The number of grey levels in a monochrome copy.
Greyscale A greyscale digital image is an image in which the value of each pixel is a single sample shade of grey. See Graduation.
GUI Graphical User Interface Allows an user to interface with a digital device using graphical icons instead of sending code, e.g. copier touch screens.
Halftone The reprographic technique that simulates continuous tone imagery through the use of equally spaced dots of varying size.
Image overlay Images (copies) can be stored to memory then overlaid onto another document, e.g. a company logo can be overlaid to a document page.
IPX/SPX Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange A network protocol used by Novell NetWare operating systems.
JBIG A lossless image compression standard. It uses a form of arithmetic coding known as the Q-coder.
LAN Local Area Network. A computer network covering a small geographical area such as an office building.
Large Format Designed for media sizes of A" and above.
Magnification The ability to enlarge or reduce a document size. This can either be a fixed percentage or zoom.
Memory A hardware component in a photocopier that stores data. Usually quoted in MB (megabytes).
MFD Multifunctional Device. A device that can handle the work of many separate devices e.g. both a photocopier and a printer in one machine.
MH Message Handling system. Designed to work from the command line provided by the shell on UNIX type OS.
MMR Modified Modified READ. A FAX coding. See READ.
Modem Modulator / Demodulator. A device that modulates an analogue signal to encode digital information so that it can be transferred over a network.
Modem Speed The speed of a MODEM . Usually quoted in Kbytes per second (Kbps).
ADF Automatic document feeder. The ADF is used to copy multiple-page documents without the need to manually load each page. Also see RADF
ADU Automatic Duplexing Unit - automatic double-sided copying.
All-In-Ones See MFDs
Analogue A method of producing a copy via use of reflecting light. Used in older copiers.
Batch transmission Usually a fax option. Documents can be scanned and sent to multiple other faxes.
Catch Tray The tray that collects the output copies.
CMYK See Four Colour Printing
Consumables Parts of a machine that need to be replenished, e.g. toner
Copy size The size of the paper that the copier outputs. Photocopiers may have different cassettes holding different paper sizes.
Copy Speed The speed of production for the copier once it has run through the first copy. Usually in CPM (copies per minute)
Counter The counter will keep a numerical record of the number of copies produced.
CPM Copies per minute. See Copy Speed.
CPU Central Processing Unit. Also known as the "Processor", this is the component in a digital device that interprets instructions and processes data.
DADF Duplex and Automatic Document Feeder. This feeder can handle double-sided documents. It will automatically copy one side and then reverse the document to copy the other.
Data compression Data compression or source coding is the process of encoding information using fewer bits than an unencoded representation would require, through the use of specific encoding schemes.
Delayed transmission Usually a fax option. Documents can be scanned and sent at a later time.
Digital A signal that comprises of two states. Usually coded to represent values.
DNS Domain Name System A system that serves as a type of " phone book" for the internet.
Document Management A method of storing and managing documents electronically; a step towards the "paperless office"
DPI Dots Per Inch. See resolution.
Driver A computer programme that allows other computer programmes to interact with a hardware device. They are usually OS-specific.
Duplex The ability to automatically print on both sides of a page.
Exposure control An exposure control device for a copier includes a microcomputer which automatically varies the exposure sequentially in a stepwise fashion. The copier performs copying operation in correspondence with the timing of this variation in exposure. The user need only press a print button once to obtain a copy or copies with exposure changed in stepwise fashion.
FAX Facsimile
First time copy The time taken for the first page to be copied.
Four Colour Printing Using the four colours cyan, magenta, yellow and black to produce all other colours. Otherwise known as CMYK.
FTP File Transfer Protocol is used to transfer data from one computer to another over the Internet, or through a network.
Full bleed An image that prints right to the edge of a sheet with no borders.
GDI Graphics Device Interface A Microsoft Windows interface for representing graphical objects and transmitting them to output devices such as monitors and printers.
Graduation The number of grey levels in a monochrome copy.
Greyscale A greyscale digital image is an image in which the value of each pixel is a single sample shade of grey. See Graduation.
GUI Graphical User Interface Allows an user to interface with a digital device using graphical icons instead of sending code, e.g. copier touch screens.
Halftone The reprographic technique that simulates continuous tone imagery through the use of equally spaced dots of varying size.
Image overlay Images (copies) can be stored to memory then overlaid onto another document, e.g. a company logo can be overlaid to a document page.
IPX/SPX Internetwork Packet Exchange/Sequenced Packet Exchange A network protocol used by Novell NetWare operating systems.
JBIG A lossless image compression standard. It uses a form of arithmetic coding known as the Q-coder.
LAN Local Area Network. A computer network covering a small geographical area such as an office building.
Large Format Designed for media sizes of A" and above.
Magnification The ability to enlarge or reduce a document size. This can either be a fixed percentage or zoom.
Memory A hardware component in a photocopier that stores data. Usually quoted in MB (megabytes).
MFD Multifunctional Device. A device that can handle the work of many separate devices e.g. both a photocopier and a printer in one machine.
MH Message Handling system. Designed to work from the command line provided by the shell on UNIX type OS.
MMR Modified Modified READ. A FAX coding. See READ.
Modem Modulator / Demodulator. A device that modulates an analogue signal to encode digital information so that it can be transferred over a network.
Modem Speed The speed of a MODEM . Usually quoted in Kbytes per second (Kbps).
Monochrome Another term for black & white, although it is actually greyscale.
MR Modified READ. A facsimile coding. See READ.
Multiple copying The production of many copies from one scanned page. Usually quoted as 1 to xx sheets.
NetBIOS Network Basic Input / Output System. The NetBIOS API allows applications on separate computers to communicate over a local area network.
Network Print Enables printing from a LAN.
N-up Printing Enables printing of more than one page on a single sheet: one-up, two-up, or as many as 16-up printing on the same page. This environmentally-friendly feature decreases the consumption of paper and toner.
OS Operating system. The system that a digital device is using, e.g. WindowsXP
PCL Printer Command Language. A Page description language (PDL) developed by HP as a printer protocol which has become a de facto industry standard. Originally developed for early inkjet printers in 1984, PCL has been released in varying levels for thermal, matrix printer, and page printers. HP-GL and PJL are supported by later versions of PCL.
PDF Portable Document Format. A file format created by Adobe Systems.
PDL Page Description Language. A true POSTSCRIPT computer programming language which is specifically designed to create and modify both text and graphic images, with full equality on a page at any resolution and in any colour or density.
Pedestal The cabinet on which the copier sits. Usually used for paper storage.
PFU Paper Feed Unit. Usually an option to increase paper capacity.
Platen Cover The cover that moves back and forth over the platen glass.
POTS Plain Old Telephone System. An alternative name used in the US for the PSTN.
Print Controller The printer's main onboard computer. It communicates with the PC to process print information.
Print Engine Resolution See Resolution
Processor See CPU.
PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network. Otherwise known as a "Landline".
RADF (1) Reversing Automatic Document Feeder. See DADF.
RADF (2) Recirculating Automatic Document Feeder. This feeder will automatically recirculate double-sided pages to their original document.
RAW A description of data formatted exactly how the printer needs it.
READ Relative Element Address Designate
Reproduction ratio See Magnification. Can be represented as 1:2 instead of 50% or A3:A4
Resolution The number of individual dots of ink a printer or toner can produce within a unit of distance. Usually Dots Per Inch ( DPI).
RIP Raster Image Processor. See Print Controller.
RoHS Restriction of Hazardous Substances.
Saddle stitch A finisher option designed to automatically fold and insert staples into the spine (saddle) of a copied document.
Scan to email This allows a scan of a document to be emailed to a destination, direct from the photocopier.
Scan to file This feature creates an electronic file from a hardcopy original, rather than producing an email attachment.
SMB Server Message Block An application-level network protocol mainly applied to shared access for files, printers, serial ports, and miscellaneous communications between nodes on a network. It also provides an authenticated inter-process communication mechanism.
Source encoding See "Data Compression".
Stack Bypass A method to manually feed paper. Handy when a single change of paper type is required.
SuperG3 A Fax protocol also known as V34. Initiated in the mid 1990s to reduce the fax transmission time using faster image transfer and control channel modulations.
Supported OS Usually a list of operating systems with which a device is compatible.
TCO Total cost of ownership.
TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol. Standards of protocol used in networking.
Tiff Tagged Image File Format. A file format for storing images, including photographs and line art.
TWAIN A standard for acquiring images from image scanners typically used as an interface between image processing software and a scanner or digital camera.
UFRII Ultra Fast Rendering. Canon's own proprietary next generation printing technology which delivers a superior processing speed, ensuring the shortest possible printing time. Designed to achieve the highest performance in its field, it offers far faster processing compared to existing Printer Description Languages.
USB Universal Serial Bus A serial interface designed to allow peripherals to be connected using a standardised interface socket. The interface can be type A or B.
USB2.0 A USB developed in 2001 with a specification of a higher data transfer rate. Up to 480 Mbit/s
WAN Wide Area Network. A Computer network covering a large geographical area, such as offices located in different towns.
Warm up time The time taken from switching on the machine until it is ready for use.
Watermark A watermark is placed in the output so that copies can be tracked back to the copier.
WEEE Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment
Wide Format See Large Format.
Zoom See Magnification.
MR Modified READ. A facsimile coding. See READ.
Multiple copying The production of many copies from one scanned page. Usually quoted as 1 to xx sheets.
NetBIOS Network Basic Input / Output System. The NetBIOS API allows applications on separate computers to communicate over a local area network.
Network Print Enables printing from a LAN.
N-up Printing Enables printing of more than one page on a single sheet: one-up, two-up, or as many as 16-up printing on the same page. This environmentally-friendly feature decreases the consumption of paper and toner.
OS Operating system. The system that a digital device is using, e.g. WindowsXP
PCL Printer Command Language. A Page description language (PDL) developed by HP as a printer protocol which has become a de facto industry standard. Originally developed for early inkjet printers in 1984, PCL has been released in varying levels for thermal, matrix printer, and page printers. HP-GL and PJL are supported by later versions of PCL.
PDF Portable Document Format. A file format created by Adobe Systems.
PDL Page Description Language. A true POSTSCRIPT computer programming language which is specifically designed to create and modify both text and graphic images, with full equality on a page at any resolution and in any colour or density.
Pedestal The cabinet on which the copier sits. Usually used for paper storage.
PFU Paper Feed Unit. Usually an option to increase paper capacity.
Platen Cover The cover that moves back and forth over the platen glass.
POTS Plain Old Telephone System. An alternative name used in the US for the PSTN.
Print Controller The printer's main onboard computer. It communicates with the PC to process print information.
Print Engine Resolution See Resolution
Processor See CPU.
PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network. Otherwise known as a "Landline".
RADF (1) Reversing Automatic Document Feeder. See DADF.
RADF (2) Recirculating Automatic Document Feeder. This feeder will automatically recirculate double-sided pages to their original document.
RAW A description of data formatted exactly how the printer needs it.
READ Relative Element Address Designate
Reproduction ratio See Magnification. Can be represented as 1:2 instead of 50% or A3:A4
Resolution The number of individual dots of ink a printer or toner can produce within a unit of distance. Usually Dots Per Inch ( DPI).
RIP Raster Image Processor. See Print Controller.
RoHS Restriction of Hazardous Substances.
Saddle stitch A finisher option designed to automatically fold and insert staples into the spine (saddle) of a copied document.
Scan to email This allows a scan of a document to be emailed to a destination, direct from the photocopier.
Scan to file This feature creates an electronic file from a hardcopy original, rather than producing an email attachment.
SMB Server Message Block An application-level network protocol mainly applied to shared access for files, printers, serial ports, and miscellaneous communications between nodes on a network. It also provides an authenticated inter-process communication mechanism.
Source encoding See "Data Compression".
Stack Bypass A method to manually feed paper. Handy when a single change of paper type is required.
SuperG3 A Fax protocol also known as V34. Initiated in the mid 1990s to reduce the fax transmission time using faster image transfer and control channel modulations.
Supported OS Usually a list of operating systems with which a device is compatible.
TCO Total cost of ownership.
TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol. Standards of protocol used in networking.
Tiff Tagged Image File Format. A file format for storing images, including photographs and line art.
TWAIN A standard for acquiring images from image scanners typically used as an interface between image processing software and a scanner or digital camera.
UFRII Ultra Fast Rendering. Canon's own proprietary next generation printing technology which delivers a superior processing speed, ensuring the shortest possible printing time. Designed to achieve the highest performance in its field, it offers far faster processing compared to existing Printer Description Languages.
USB Universal Serial Bus A serial interface designed to allow peripherals to be connected using a standardised interface socket. The interface can be type A or B.
USB2.0 A USB developed in 2001 with a specification of a higher data transfer rate. Up to 480 Mbit/s
WAN Wide Area Network. A Computer network covering a large geographical area, such as offices located in different towns.
Warm up time The time taken from switching on the machine until it is ready for use.
Watermark A watermark is placed in the output so that copies can be tracked back to the copier.
WEEE Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment
Wide Format See Large Format.
Zoom See Magnification.
