In an office or at home, tax professionals, legal professionals, graphic designers, and many others rely heavily on printers and copiers to seamlessly blend analogue documents into the digital realm. Line copies, scanned documents, and prints emerge with ease, giving a sharable and distributable format. It is pertinent that the difference between each device functions is clear as it allows one to determine the right pieces of equipment from the start planning, renting, or upgrading to new equipment.
In this blog, we’ll dive into the differences between copiers and printers, explore the specific features of each, and help you determine which device is right for your personal or business needs.
What is a Copier?
As the name suggests, copiers or photocopiers are machines designed to help in reproducing documents. Traditional copiers, for example, used a method of xerography which employed light and static electricity to reproduce documents. Nowadays, copiers not only perform copying but also printing, scanning and sometimes faxing.
Key Features of Copiers:
- Copying – A copier’s primary function is to make copies of a document in different forms. It can deal with all sizes and types of paper.
- Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) – An ADF allows the user to add multiple pages to a single document for copying and enables modern copiers to accomplish effortless copying.
- High-Volume Capabilities – Unlike ordinary printers, copiers have a greater print volume capacity, making them better suited to office settings which need heavy document duplication.
You can find copiers most often in schools, offices, and libraries since the demand for document duplication is very high within a short period of time.
What is a Printer?
A Printer is an output device that makes a physical copy of documents stored on a computer, smartphone, or other electronic device. In simple words, while copiers reproduce existing paper documents, printers are used to create new physical copies of files that are stored digitally.
Attributes of Printers:
- Prints from Digital Files – Most printers, such as multifunction printers (MFPs), are capable of creating duplicates and supplementary copies aside from printing. However, primary copiers solely focus on reproducing identical copies from existing documents.
- Variety of Printing Methods – Digital files from mobile devices or computers can easily be transferred into hard copies via a printer.
- Versatility – Printers employ different technologies and methods to produce documents which serve specific benefits, ease, and advantages. These methodologies include inkjet-style printing for high-quality images and color prints along with laser-like printing for speedy and high-volume prints.
- Smaller Form Factor – Printers can adjust according to different sizes and a plethora of other types of papers including photographic paper and standard office paper catering both to professional and artistic usage.
Key Differences
1. Purpose
- Copier: A photocopy machine can be used for duplicating a document one at a time by photocopying it. The person copying the document has the choice of placing it at the machine, and it will give an exact copy.
- Printer: A printer is a device mostly used for reproducing hard documents. Documents can be forwarded to the printer from a telephone or computer, and the device will print them.
2. Functionality
- Copier: Most copiers only offer copying functionality. However, their more modern versions have an integrated scanner, printer, and fax machine as multifunction.
- Printer: Most of the usage of any printer is to print documents. The advancement in technology has made printers multifunctional, meaning they can also scan and photograph documents.
3. Source of Documents
- Copier: The document being copied is always physical. You place the physical document onto the copier’s glass plate, and it creates a duplicate.
- Printer: A printer requires a digital file as input. You can print from a computer, mobile device, or any digital source.
4. Output Quality
- Copier: Copiers are designed to reproduce documents exactly as they are, meaning the copy quality is often directly linked to the quality of the original document. Even though advanced copiers can create high-quality duplicates, their primary focus is on volume.
- Printer: When it comes to creating original prints, printers offer higher-quality reproduction, especially inkjet printers which are versatile for photo printing and other creative projects.
5. Speed and Volume
- Copier: Commercial-grade copiers are usually the fastest compared to other types because they tend to scan documents at a much higher speed–often ranging from 30 to 50 pages a minute–along with volume printing and copying.
- Printer: Inkjet printers are often slower in comparison to copiers, while laser printers can keep up with the speed, they tend to only focus on printing rather than duplicating pre-existing documents.
When Should You Use a Copier?
If you are looking to duplicate a large number of documents quickly.
If you routinely need to duplicate physical paper like office memos, reports, and forms.
If it is also a requirement that the device be a scanner, fax machine, and multi-functional device.
When Should You Use a Printer?
• When there is a need to print out reports, presentations or creative files.
• When there is a requirement to print photo-quality pictures or high-quality graphics.
• When a small quantity of documents needs to be printed, or when a small office printer is needed for a home office.
Conclusion: Copiers vs Printers
Both copiers and printers are equally important in an office but have different primary uses. Printers serve the purpose of creating new prints from digital files while copiers duplicate physical documents into other copies. The right alternative for a business or home depends on whether they’re primarily duplicating documents or creating new ones from digital sources.
VRS Technologies for example caters printer rentals in Riyadh for businesses and individuals looking for high-quality printers under flexible agreements. For project specific short-term rentals or long-term office solutions, we offer top-of-the-line printers with fast delivery and easy setup. For more printer rental services in Riyadh, visit our website at www.vrstech.sa or contact us at +966-50-6911728.
In an office or at home, tax professionals, legal professionals, graphic designers, and many others rely heavily on printers and copiers to seamlessly blend analogue documents into the digital realm. Line copies, scanned documents, and prints emerge with ease, giving a sharable and distributable format. It is pertinent that the difference between each device functions is clear as it allows one to determine the right pieces of equipment from the start planning, renting, or upgrading to new equipment.
In this blog, we’ll dive into the differences between copiers and printers, explore the specific features of each, and help you determine which device is right for your personal or business needs.
What is a Copier?
As the name suggests, copiers or photocopiers are machines designed to help in reproducing documents. Traditional copiers, for example, used a method of xerography which employed light and static electricity to reproduce documents. Nowadays, copiers not only perform copying but also printing, scanning and sometimes faxing.
Key Features of Copiers:
- Copying – A copier’s primary function is to make copies of a document in different forms. It can deal with all sizes and types of paper.
- Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) – An ADF allows the user to add multiple pages to a single document for copying and enables modern copiers to accomplish effortless copying.
- High-Volume Capabilities – Unlike ordinary printers, copiers have a greater print volume capacity, making them better suited to office settings which need heavy document duplication.
You can find copiers most often in schools, offices, and libraries since the demand for document duplication is very high within a short period of time.
What is a Printer?
A Printer is an output device that makes a physical copy of documents stored on a computer, smartphone, or other electronic device. In simple words, while copiers reproduce existing paper documents, printers are used to create new physical copies of files that are stored digitally.
Attributes of Printers:
- Prints from Digital Files – Most printers, such as multifunction printers (MFPs), are capable of creating duplicates and supplementary copies aside from printing. However, primary copiers solely focus on reproducing identical copies from existing documents.
- Variety of Printing Methods – Digital files from mobile devices or computers can easily be transferred into hard copies via a printer.
- Versatility – Printers employ different technologies and methods to produce documents which serve specific benefits, ease, and advantages. These methodologies include inkjet-style printing for high-quality images and color prints along with laser-like printing for speedy and high-volume prints.
- Smaller Form Factor – Printers can adjust according to different sizes and a plethora of other types of papers including photographic paper and standard office paper catering both to professional and artistic usage.
Key Differences
1. Purpose
- Copier: A photocopy machine can be used for duplicating a document one at a time by photocopying it. The person copying the document has the choice of placing it at the machine, and it will give an exact copy.
- Printer: A printer is a device mostly used for reproducing hard documents. Documents can be forwarded to the printer from a telephone or computer, and the device will print them.
2. Functionality
- Copier: Most copiers only offer copying functionality. However, their more modern versions have an integrated scanner, printer, and fax machine as multifunction.
- Printer: Most of the usage of any printer is to print documents. The advancement in technology has made printers multifunctional, meaning they can also scan and photograph documents.
3. Source of Documents
- Copier: The document being copied is always physical. You place the physical document onto the copier’s glass plate, and it creates a duplicate.
- Printer: A printer requires a digital file as input. You can print from a computer, mobile device, or any digital source.
4. Output Quality
- Copier: Copiers are designed to reproduce documents exactly as they are, meaning the copy quality is often directly linked to the quality of the original document. Even though advanced copiers can create high-quality duplicates, their primary focus is on volume.
- Printer: When it comes to creating original prints, printers offer higher-quality reproduction, especially inkjet printers which are versatile for photo printing and other creative projects.
5. Speed and Volume
- Copier: Commercial-grade copiers are usually the fastest compared to other types because they tend to scan documents at a much higher speed–often ranging from 30 to 50 pages a minute–along with volume printing and copying.
- Printer: Inkjet printers are often slower in comparison to copiers, while laser printers can keep up with the speed, they tend to only focus on printing rather than duplicating pre-existing documents.
When Should You Use a Copier?
If you are looking to duplicate a large number of documents quickly.
If you routinely need to duplicate physical paper like office memos, reports, and forms.
If it is also a requirement that the device be a scanner, fax machine, and multi-functional device.
When Should You Use a Printer?
• When there is a need to print out reports, presentations or creative files.
• When there is a requirement to print photo-quality pictures or high-quality graphics.
• When a small quantity of documents needs to be printed, or when a small office printer is needed for a home office.
Conclusion: Copiers vs Printers
Both copiers and printers are equally important in an office but have different primary uses. Printers serve the purpose of creating new prints from digital files while copiers duplicate physical documents into other copies. The right alternative for a business or home depends on whether they’re primarily duplicating documents or creating new ones from digital sources.
VRS Technologies PVT LTD for example caters printer rentals in Riyadh for businesses and individuals looking for high-quality printers under flexible agreements. For project specific short-term rentals or long-term office solutions, we offer top-of-the-line printers with fast delivery and easy setup. For more printer rental services in Riyadh, visit our website at www.vrstech.sa or contact us at +966-50-6911728.
