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Glossary

air brush

A printer software option used for printing detailed photos.

alignment page

A page with printed alignment patterns that ejects from your printer during cartridge alignment.

application

Any software loaded on your computer that lets you perform a specific task, such as word processing or photo editing.

automatic alignment

A feature that automatically aligns the print cartridges.

Automatic Sheet Feeder (ASF)

A mechanism that automatically feeds paper into your printer.

bidirectional communication

Two-way communication that lets a computer and a peripheral device, such as a printer, exchange data through a parallel cable.

cartridge contact

The gold area on your print cartridge that touches the carrier contacts inside your printer.

Category 5 cable

A network cable that transmits data at high speeds. You can use this cable to connect a printer, hub, computer, or other device to an Ethernet network. Also referred to as an Ethernet or Cat 5 cable.

coated paper

Treated paper designed for high-quality printed images.

collate

A printer software option that lets you automatically print one complete copy of a multiple-page document before the next copy begins, and so on.

configured printer

A printer connected to a network that has been assigned an IP address and printer name. You must configure a network-capable printer to access it over a network.

custom size paper

A nonstandard paper size.

default printer

The printer automatically used when you send jobs to print.

default printer settings

Printer software settings defined when the printer is manufactured.

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)

A protocol for assigning dynamic IP addresses to devices on a network. With dynamic addressing, a device can have a different IP address every time it connects to the network.

dither

A printer software option used for printing images with significant detail but little shading.

document color

A printer software option used for printing photographs and highly detailed graphic images.

driver

printer software

Ethernet cable

Category 5 cable

Ethernet network

The predominant local area networking (LAN) technology that uses a high speed standard for networking communication.

glossy paper

Paper with one glossy side designed for photographs.

halftone

A printer software option that places dots in varying degrees of intensity to simulate colors and shades of gray.

handouts

Multiple-page images printed in a single sheet of paper. N-up

hub

A device used to connect several computers or peripheral devices.

image smoothing

A printer software option that lets you print clearer, sharper images.

Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

Technology that lets a computer connected to the Internet share its connection with other computers on a local subnet. This technology lets your printer software automatically configure (assign an IP address to) your printer on a local subnet.

IP (Internet Protocol) address

A 32-bit binary number that identifies the location of a specific computer on the Internet. Any computer directly connected to the Internet must have an IP address.

label

A self-adhesive paper.

LAN (local area network)

A network of two or more computers within a limited area. The networked computers are often called workstations. A LAN is sometimes referred to as a local subnet.

landscape orientation

Page orientation in which text runs parallel with the long edge of the paper.

Lexmark adapter

An external device that connects your network-capable printer to a network.

line art

A printer software option used for printing simple line art and graphics.

local subnet

LAN (local area network)

MAC (media access control) address

A factory-assigned, 12-character identifier that is unique for each network hardware device, such as a print server. For example, 00.02.00.10.08.08.

margins

The blank area between printed text or graphics and the edges of a page.

mirror

A printer software option that lets you reverse an image before printing.

N-up

A printer software option that lets you print multiple pages of a document on a single sheet of paper. For example, select 4-up to print reduced images of pages 1 through 4 on the first sheet of paper, images of pages 5 through 8 on the second sheet, and so on.

network

A group of computers, printers, or other peripheral devices connected to each other for the purpose of sharing information.

network adapter

Lexmark adapter

network-capable printer

A printer that you can connect to a network. Some network-capable printers may require an external network adapter.

network connection speed light

A light that indicates the rate that data is transmitted over a network (usually 10 megabits per second (Mbps) or 100Mbps).

network link light

A light that indicates a device, such as a printer, is connected to a network.

network port

(1) A logical connection to a printer across a network. (2) An Input/Output adapter used to connect a peripheral device, such as a printer, to a network.

network printer

A printer made available on a network, not connected directly to your computer.

operating system

The software that provides the basic functions needed for operating your computer. For example, Windows 98 or Macintosh OS X.

paper type sensor

A feature that automatically detects some types of paper loaded in the paper tray.

parallel cable

A 25-pin cable that connects a peripheral device, such as a printer, to a computer.

parallel port

The 25-pin port on the back of your computer that connects to peripheral devices, such as a printer, using a parallel cable. The parallel port lets your computer communicate with your printer.

peer-to-peer network

A local area network (LAN) in which all computers have access to the public files located on other computers.

peripheral device

Any external device connected to and controlled by a computer.

photo paper

Treated paper designed for photographs.

plain paper

Paper designed for printing text documents.

portrait orientation

Page orientation in which text runs parallel with the short edge of the paper.

premium paper

Coated paper designed for reports or documents with graphics.

print cartridge

The replaceable unit inside your printer that contains the ink.

print cartridge nozzles

The gold area of the print cartridge that ink flows through before it is applied to your paper during printing.

print queue

The location on the server where print jobs are stored for printing in the order in which they are sent.

print server

Lexmark adapter

printer driver

printer software

printer port

USB port and parallel port

printer software

The program that lets you select settings to customize your print job. (2) The program that lets your computer communicate with your printer.

program

application

remote subnet

A separate network that is connected to your local area network.

reverse order printing

A printer software option that lets you print the last page of your document first so your pages are in sequential order on the exit tray.

RJ-45 connector

The end of a network cable (typically a Category 5 cable) that connects a device to a network. (Similar to an RJ-11 connector located at the end of a telephone cable.)

sharpen

A printer software option that reduces the blurriness of a printed image.

software application

application

subnet

A segment of a network that is connected to a larger network. A local area network is sometimes referred to as a local subnet.

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)

A network protocol used to connect workstations and hosts.

transparency

A see-through sheet of print media that can be displayed on an overhead projector.

two-way communication

bidirectional communication

unconfigured printer

A printer connected to a network that has not yet been assigned an IP address.

USB cable

A lightweight, flexible cable that lets your printer communicate with your computer. USB cables transmit data at much higher speeds than parallel cables.

USB port

A small, rectangular port on the back of your computer that connects to peripheral devices, such as a printer, using a USB cable. The USB port lets your computer communicate with your printer at high speeds.

watermark

A light graphic or background text that appears on each page of a document.

Web Tune-Up

A feature that lets you periodically download updated printer software already installed on your computer.

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