In-Printer Processing Architecture
In-Printer processing architecture
By off-loading as much processing as you can to the printer, you can free up your computer and network, thereby increasing overall productivity. HP does this by using In-Printer architecture (dedicated file processing memory) enabling you to print complex files directly on the printer. This is only available for printers with an internal hard disk - and its the printers own hard drive which provides a large buffer. This effectively leads to lower traffic over your network and less load on your computer - which in turn means a faster return to 'ready' for your PC so you can continue with your next job.
The next job may be started while your printer processes and prints your previous job - so that you can print and process files in parallel. A lower network load also means you don't have to upgrade your network and gives further dependability that your complex files will print quickly with no loss of information, reducing the chances that your workstation will lock up when printing large files.
This is important because it can affect the print quality - with an effect called 'wait-state banding'. This happens when print jobs are processed in the workstation and large bitmap image files are produced that must be sent over the network to the printer. In this case both the workstation and printer must be synchronised because delays in sending data due to workstation or network load, can cause the printer to stop and wait for data. This produces visible bands on the print because the ink dries differently when the print carriage stops and waits compared to continuous printing. By comparison when print jobs are processed in the printer, the workstation sends only compact spool files to the printer. This data is converted to a bitmap image in the printer so that the large volume of bitmap data is kept within the printer's internal high-bandwidth image processing architecture. Situations where the printer must stop and wait for incoming data are then effectively eliminated.
How does it work?
HP Designjet printers with In-Processing Architecture use a custom HP ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) to perform fast, hardware-based colour processing, pixel scaling, and halftoning in the printer rather than in the workstation. The ASIC is a fully-custom design with architecture and firmware developed by HP. It can process up to 50 million pixels per second and can transfer up to 50 GB of data per second over its two 32-bit data busses.
Which Designjets have this capability?
Small workgroup printers have the light version of HP In-Printer Processing architecture. Medium workgroup printers have the express version of HP In-Printer Processing Architecture. These printers feature a hard disk drive which allows in-printer image processing to be segmented into the different stages (1. parsing and building an object list 2. rendering and storing a virtual page 3. composing and printing a page) and allow the printers to process up to three different jobs at the same time for high printing productivity, and include the following: Designjet T1300 Designjet T2300 eMFP The following production and department printers include the full range of In-Printer Processing capabilities and are as follows: Designjet T7100 Designjet Z6200 Designjet Z5200.