Printing Speed - Printronix P9212 Setup Manual

Printing Speed

The speed of text printing is measured in lines per minute (lpm). This speed
is dependent upon the number of dot rows required to produce a line of
characters, regardless of the number of characters in the line. Because more
dot rows are required to print lowercase characters with descenders, those
character lines will print at a fractionally lower rate.
In addition to character printing, the printer can plot dot-addressable graphic
images. The speed of graphics plotting is measured in inches per minute
(ipm). See page A–6 to determine plot speed.
Unidirectional plotting can produce better print quality and takes about twice
as long as bidirectional plotting. You can select either plotting mode from the
control panel or from the host computer.
Printing rates also vary according to the print font you select. For example, if
you select the Near Letter Quality (NLQ) option, the printer uses more dot
rows and slower print strokes to form characters than if you choose the High
Speed draft (HS) option. Character formation and print speed are faster in
High Speed because the printer uses fewer dot rows to form characters.
Horizontal dot density is thus a factor in printing speed.
Printing rates are listed in Appendix A, Printer Specifications.
NOTE: Print speed depends on the print font option.
B–4
Plot speed depends on horizontal resolution only.
Line Matrix Printing