Book excerpt: Printing traces its roots back for centuries, and the invention of moveable type changed the world. However, until the advent of the computer, printing remained a costly and time-consuming operation. From the first humble dot matrix to modern inkjet, laser, and dye sublimation printers, desktop printing has brought low-cost, high quality printing out of the large presses and into the home and office. Color Desktop Printer Technology provides an overview of the current state of the technology, examining both current and emerging applications. With expert contributors from leading companies and universities in the US and Japan, this book examines the color desktop printer from every angle. It begins with an introduction to the basic principles of color printing and the concepts of document and image quality. An overview of the historical background, current trends, and future directions places the technology in its business and market context. The book then devotes four chapters to the major platform: inkjet, laser printer, thermal transfer, and film recording. The last two chapters focus on color management and the quickly developing spectral printing technology. Laying a foundation for continued development and innovation in this ubiquitous field, Color Desktop Printer Technology is fundamental enough to be enjoyed by interested laypersons, yet detailed enough to satisfy the practicing engineer.