Ready for Prime Time?: A Primer on Inkjet Presses

Printheads Rule

The printhead is the core of every inkjet system. There are two primary technologies—continuous inkjet (CIJ) and drop-on-demand (DOD), with the latter employing three different techniques for putting ink on paper. CIJ heads fire a continuous stream of electrically charged ink droplets at the paper. It is used primarily by Kodak for addressing applications, hybrid offset/inkjet systems, and the company's high-speed VX and VT l four-color printers. While capable of high speeds, CIJ has traditionally been unable to achieve the image quality of other technologies.