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Matching Colors displayed on your monitor with printouts

Colors are displayed on a video monitor by mixing the colours red, green, and blue (the three primary colors of visible light) in the amounts required to produce any given color. This sort of display technology is called RGB. In the RGB method, the more intense the colors you mix, the brighter the color becomes.

Printing technologies, on the other hand, employ the three primary colors cyan, magenta, and yellow, plus black (or K) to produce color effects. This method is called CMYK. In the CMYK method, the more of a given color you add to a mixture of colors, the darker the resultant color becomes.

As these paragraphs illustrate, the methods used to produce color in displays and printers are completely different. Other factors that can affect the perception of color are the quality of paper, type of print media, and differences in the source of light in use when viewing the colors. For these reasons, it is impossible to avoid some differences in the perceived color of a document or image viewed on a monitor, and the same image in printed form. In order to achieve a printed result which looks like the image displayed on the screen of a monitor, you must first make the appropriate settings to both the software application and the printer.

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Canon BJC-50 user manual Matching Colors displayed on your monitor with printouts

BJC-50 specifications

The Canon BJC-50 is a portable bubble jet printer that made waves in the early 1990s for its compact design and high-quality output. Launched by Canon in 1995, it appealed to both home and business users who required mobility without compromising on performance. This printer offered a unique blend of features that set it apart from traditional desktop printers of its time.

One of the standout features of the BJC-50 is its lightweight and compact form factor, making it an ideal choice for users on the move. Weighing in at a mere 3.5 pounds, it easily fits into a travel bag, allowing professionals to print documents wherever they are. Its small footprint means it can be used in tight spaces, a significant advantage for home offices or small workstations.

The technology behind the BJC-50 is rooted in Canon's bubble jet printing technology. This involved heating ink to create tiny bubbles, which then forced droplets of ink onto the paper to create sharp text and vibrant images. This method delivered higher resolution printing compared to many pen and dot matrix printers at the time. The BJC-50 produced prints at a resolution of up to 600 x 600 dpi, resulting in clear and detailed documents.

Additionally, the Canon BJC-50 featured a flexible inkjet cartridge system. Users could choose between different cartridges optimized for text or photo printing. This adaptability allowed for a range of printing tasks, from basic black and white documents to full-color graphics. The printer also supported both standard and high-capacity cartridges, providing users with options depending on their printing volume.

Connectivity was another strong point of the BJC-50. It came equipped with a parallel port and offered optional infrared capabilities, which facilitated wireless printing from compatible devices. This feature was particularly novel in the 1990s, showcasing Canon's commitment to advancing user convenience and technology.

In terms of usability, the BJC-50 had an easy-to-use interface with straightforward control buttons. It featured a compact and accessible paper tray that could handle various media types and sizes, which made the transition between different printing tasks seamless and efficient.

All in all, the Canon BJC-50 was a pioneering portable printer that encapsulated the demands of its era, balancing size, technology, and functionality. While newer models have since taken the stage, the principles that guided the design and features of the BJC-50 continue to influence portable printing solutions today.