Is there a Difference Between Document Scanners and Printers?

Printers and scanners are entirely different devices. A printer is an output device, and a scanner is an input device. The main difference is that the printer will be processing the soft copy and producing the hard copy. Contrarily, the scanner does the opposite of a printer where the printed hard copied materials are converted into soft copy. 

In the following blog, we will look at both printer and scanner functionality and how they both differ!

Printer

It is an output device that works to acquire the graphics and text output from the computer and transport the information on paper. There are many types of printers depending on the cost, speed, size, and complex construction. Generally, the cost of the printer increases as the printing quality (resolution) increases. Note that 3d printers are also available as they produce 3d prints or an object. 

Types of printers

There are two types of printers called to impact and non-impact printers. 

Impact printer

It produces an image over paper with the help of an electromechanical impact device similar to the operation of a mechanical typewriter. Dot-matrix, daisy-wheel, and line printers are different types of impact printers. 

Non-impact printer

This type doesn’t use the hammering effect to print the characters over the paper. Inkjet and laser printers fall in this category. The inkjet printer uses an ink nozzle that ejects microscopic ink drops. Moreover, there is also an all-in-one printer known as MFPS or AIOS that combines multiple features of different devices in one package. Such printers offer a laser or color inkjet printer feature combined with a scanning unit to act as a scanner, printer, and copier. 

Working mechanism of printer

Digital documents are rendered over the page by creating an impact or charge on the photosensitive materials. In impact printers, there is a generation of influence over the paper. However, non-impact printers include inkjet printers that use tiny ink nozzles and resistive heating effects. The laser printer uses laser and photosensitive material. After that, with the help of toner, the printing is accomplished. 

Scanner

It is a machine that generates an image from a source object, generating identical ideas for processing or display. Contrarily, it is an input device that helps insert the documents in the form of solid physical images or documents and processes them to store them in an electronic record which is later stored in a computer or any other electronic device. 

Types of scanners

There are different types of scanners that include sheet-fed, flatbed, handheld, drum scanners. Each type of scanner has its working mechanism, and various parts are involved during the working. In addition, flatbed scanners are small scanners that are widely used in offices and homes due to their excellent functionality and compact size. 

Working mechanism

The scanners work with illuminator lenses, lamps, and charged coupled devices for converting the printed copy into a digital copy. 

Key difference between printers and scanners

In the above section, we discussed the primary use of each device and their working mechanism that makes them different. Some other key differences between the document scanners and printers are as follows:

Editing of document

You can quickly edit or alter a document before printing it and processing it. In the case of a scanner, the digital copy is changed after its generation by scanning the solid object. 

Specific support

Different software provides options for printing the results. Therefore, all types of extensions are supported by printers. Contrarily, excluding the handheld scanner, all scanners will work with a specific page dimension, including width, length, and paper thickness. 

Conclusion

Working with printers and scanners is entirely different. Printers play an active role in transforming electronic documents into physical pieces of paper. On the other hand, a scanner takes data from an object. Such data over a paper is converted into an electronic document. Nowadays, you can also get all-in-one devices if you want features of printing, photocopying, and scanning in one device.