Glossary
Resolution
The fineness of the printing. Resolution depends on the number of dots per inch. High resolution (with more dots) is finer and more precise than low resolution, which is coarser with rougher edges.
Scalable font
A font capable of printing in any point size. Scalable fonts are stored on the computer’s hard disk. Each font consists of character templates that are used by the accompanying font utility software to create the characters in the desired point size.
Some font utilities create a complete set of characters in the desired size and send the complete set to the printer. Other utilities create and send only the individual characters as they are needed, which conserves printer memory.
Serial interface
A connection between the computer and printer in which data is transmitted sequentially over a single wire. A serial interface is slower than a parallel interface, but it can send data over a much greater distance. The
Serial protocol
A set of rules used by the computer and the printer to regulate the flow of data between them.
Symbol set
The set of characters used in a font. Most symbol sets contain standard letters, numbers, and punctuation. Symbol sets differ in the accented characters, line drawing characters, and special symbols they contain. ASCII,
Symbol sets are also called character sets, which is the term usually used with dot matrix printer fonts. See also ASCII character set; IS0 symbol set.
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