Plotter vs. Printer

Main Difference

We use many tools that are helpful in getting the softcopy from the computer becoming a hardcopy on a page or other object. How this task gets achieved depends on the device we use, and the two main kinds of devices in such category are a plotter and printer. The main difference between these two is that a plotter is a device that draws pictures on the page with the help of commands given through a computer. On the other hand, a printer is a device that brings images and texts on the page with the help of commands given through a network.

Difference Between Plotter and Printer

Comparison Chart

Definition of a Plotter

A plotter gets defined in a simple manner as a device that draws pictures on the page with the help of commands given through a computer. The main benefit of such devices is that they draw lines and figures on the page with the support of a pen and therefore, produce continuous lines. Pens range in the sizes, shapes, and colors and there is no compulsion of having just one for each device. Another way of defining the system is that they are vector graphic printers that give the exact hardcopy of the output based on the information provided in the softcopy on the computer. They are most commonly used to draw the designs of automobiles, such as cars and ships. These objects are more precise and therefore used in engineering facilities where proper measurements and precision in diagrams are required. Since they produce continuous lines, the plotters come in various forms. The latest variety among it is the 3D plotter that does not use a pen but has several knives arranged together and cut out the piece of material based on the instructions given from the computer. The object that requires shaping is placed on a flat surface and then commands from computer help in completing the task of shaping it in the required manner. A plotter also has the capacity of drawing several hundred copies of the same drawing over and over without needing new commands.

Definition of a Printer

A printer gets defined as a device that draws images and texts on the page with the help of commands given through a computer. The only thing that gets termed as a slow process in this is that the user does not get to print continuous lines. It accepts the text and graphic output from the computer and takes all the information and prints it out on the paper. Several sizes and papers are present within the system, and it optimizes itself according to the requirement. The two main types of printers that exist are the impact and non-impact printers. The first ones get defined as a type of printers are the old kind of printers and require any needle to work for them. The latter ones are the kind of printers are modern printers and get defined as the object that don’t need any needle to work for them. Essential characteristics of a printer are as follows. The output produced by these devices is either a letter quality, draft quality or the near letter quality, and that means they print as better as a typewriter. The speed with which they work is faster than other devices especially for the case of laser printer and gets measured as characters per second. They also consume more ink as compared to other devices and therefore have a cost greater when compared.

Conclusion

Plotter and Printer are the two most common used terms in getting the hard copy which has been forming the basis of the subject. They are different from each other, actually opposite and therefore it becomes that much more important for people to have a better understanding of how to use them. Hopefully, this article will go a long way in completing that task.