#PHOTOCOPY MEANING HOW TO#

With all the details provided above, it is well established that photocopiers and scanners work similarly, but their output is different. As long as you have a hard copy of the document, you can print out copies of it. Photocopying doesn’t need a scanned digital copy. This means that you may need to scan a document first before it can be printed out. With printing, you need to have the digital copy of the document first before getting it on paper. It’s not difficult to tell the difference since a copier’s main objective is to create duplicate copies, but a printer’s primary goal is to print. However, with the advancement of technology, many people are unsure about the differences between these two machines since many multi-purpose printers now have copier capabilities.

A printer for printing and a photocopier for photocopying. Two different types of equipment are required for each of these options.

Photocopying a document from a physical paper.

Printing a document from a digital copy.

There are two options when it comes to creating a document using paper Though they are very similar, printing should not be mistaken for photocopying. High-end copiers can also collate and staple groups of papers something scanners can’t do. Scanning and then getting a document’s hardcopy is two steps photocopying involves just one step.įurthermore, copiers make numerous copies of your scanned documents, making mass document reproduction swift and straightforward. Scanners work on a page-by-page basis, making them slower than copiers, which can handle numerous pages at once. The digital copies may then be sent through email or shared with others on your network. Scanners are handy for converting text or photographs into high-resolution digital images. The information below will help you tell how each machine works, based on quality, speed, and advancements. Photocopiers vs Scanners: How Do They Work? Scanners create a digital copy that needs to be stored somewhere and retrieved later to be used. On the other hand, scanning needs a fundamental understanding of computers to handle scans’ transmission, storage, and editing. Additional options allow you to alter the print quality or the number of copies printed. This single-click scans and prints the document in one go. Most photocopiers need users to just click a button to begin the photocopying process. User Interfaceĭocument copying is a less time-consuming and less complicated method than scanning. However, if you are looking to create a physical copy, use a photocopier. Thus, if you want to just create a digital copy, use a scanner.

Photocopiers are equipped with their own ink system, output trays, and printing capabilities to create copies of a document. Photocopiers don’t just create digital copies but also printouts of the document. Scanners lack output trays, ink systems, and printing capabilities they only create digital copies. Scanners are tools for businesses, schools, entrepreneurs, or company owners who wish to become “paperless.”Īfter creating a digital copy, it sends documents to a computer (through email or network) for storage or saves them on a USB or memory card. Scanning creates a digital copy to be stored somewhere while photocopying doesn’t just create a digital copy but also prints it out. The significant differences are shared below by category. People often use photocopy and scan interchangeably without really knowing the differences.Īlthough it has been pointed out that the first step is similar, other stages of the procedure, on the other hand, are entirely different.

#PHOTOCOPY MEANING HOW TO#

You can also put it in the document feeder, which allows multiple papers to be copied or scanned at once.Īlso Read: Learn How to Photocopy on a Printer in MinutesĪfter this first step, the next stages are what separates photocopying from scanning. This is putting a document on the platen, which is a flat glass surface on the device’s top. The first stages of photocopying and scanning are the same which is to create a digital copy of a document. The main similarity between a photocopy and a scan is that they both make digital copies of a document. It’s a great way to create copies of a document for distribution. Instead of creating a digital copy of a document, photocopying creates a paper copy or hardcopy. It’s a great way to reduce the physical storage of paper especially if you want to go paperless. The digital copy can then be stored and sent digitally as well. Scanning creates a digital copy of a document. Photocopiers vs Scanners: How Do They Work?ĭocument scanning or document imaging is the process of turning a paper document into a digital picture (or microfilm).Similarities Between Photocopy and Scan.

Photocopy meaning