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A non-impact printer is a computer printer that creates an image on paper without mechanically striking the page, using methods like spraying ink, heat, or static electricity instead. Common examples include inkjet printers and laser printers, which are known for being much quieter, faster, and capable of higher quality and color printing than older impact printers.

How it works

No physical contact: Unlike older "impact" printers that hammer an inked ribbon, non-impact printers use technologies that don't require a physical strike against the paper's surface.

Technology examples:

Inkjet: Sprays tiny droplets of liquid ink onto the paper.

Laser: Uses a laser beam to create an electrostatic image on a drum, which then attracts and transfers toner (powdered ink) to the paper, followed by heat and pressure to fuse it.

Thermal: Uses heat to create an image on special heat-sensitive paper or a heat-sensitive ribbon.

Key characteristics:

Quiet operation: They are significantly quieter because there are no mechanical parts striking the page.

High print quality: They produce higher resolution and better quality prints with sharp text and vibrant colors.

Speed: They are generally much faster than impact printers, especially for high-volume printing.

Graphics: They are excellent at printing complex graphics, images, and a variety of fonts.

Paper: They primarily use individual sheets of paper rather than continuous paper fed through rollers and cannot produce multi-part forms directly.