How a Color Laser Printer Works -- Inside an HP® 2600 Toner Cartridge

This animated video takes a look into the electrophotographic process, used by HP® CP2600 laser printers to create vivid color prints.

[@Captain.Dank64]

2014: a video about how a printer works 2021: *PRINTER LORE*

[@Micheal31046]

I knew this was coming

[@unoyoshiblu700]

Ye

[@mfadhilal-fatih1427]

YOU DON'T HAVE TO CUTT ME OOF

[@nutsirimaunjit7427]

i wonder who invent this meme , like how and why

[@elyay7203]

But you didn't have to cut me off

[@Surgemus]

After working in a print shop, I've learned to tell people the simple, yet true thing: "It's basically melts color dust onto paper."

[@beedslolkuntus2070]

😂🤣👍

[@19wael96]

Thank you!

[@en963]

Thx alot

[@mehraanwani7752]

There are thousands of colours in some images, does the printer possess it?

[@superjeffstanton]

@@mehraanwani7752 primary colors bro

[@ManishSingh2k]

I have developed so much respect for my printer after watching this video.

[@sg8nj]

😂🤣😹Lol

[@haninaltammar3558]

When the animation looks bomb but you did not understand anything from it

[@7410n0]

EIL5: The laser creates a stamp which is then stamped onto the paper.

[@exoticpotatogenesisumbrella]

Holy Water ikr

[@matthewvaughan8192]

How does the printer know where to put each colour exactly?

[@exoticpotatogenesisumbrella]

Matthew Vaughan TECHNOLOGY BITCH

[@manadomagz2150]

it just magically happen

[@TheTornado121]

It's mind boggling to think about how many things are going on every single time you hit the print key...

[@luizeventos6414]

TheTornado121 And all the escam too

[@pr3ttysus922]

And that all that’s happens in 20 seconds

[@Snay1998]

Yet printers are the worst designed product ever

[@RaduRadonys]

@@Snay1998 Ink printers, not laser.

[@ludwigjosh9619]

Printer: printer goess brrrr Printer lore:

[@rooneye]

This is so complicated, man. Amazing that people were able to create this thing. The human brain is pretty awesome.

[@blutsx]

still confused

[@trinityinjextion1722]

Might be ... we are just stupid

[@Cody-ye3ye]

Still don’t understand it

[@ViceLibertyAndreas]

I'm brainlet.

[@midhun-007]

Me too

[@safetydoge]

Let's just say it works

[@marmarxgoesxrawr]

Anyone else here just bored at the office and just look at their toner printer and just wonder how the hell it works? Thats what brought me here

[@goggles8002]

sound like your in the wrong field

[@ExtremeLotusx]

@@goggles8002 No he's not fucking nerd

[@EddieGeeTV]

@@ExtremeLotusx what he said

[@seemaintermetpvtltdseemain6843]

Lol same here.

[@alessandromarostica421]

was studying for my finals and suddendly went "how the f do laser printers work?" lol

[@mokow3732]

Aight for those who didn't understand: Basically they use the laser to charge with positive energy certain parts of the cilinder, then they charge the toner dust with negative energy which makes it stick to the cilinder, then the dust sticks to the paper (it does that with every cartridge) and at the end the colors are fused to the paper by melting it.

[@nasarquadri]

Hey, thanks!!🙂

[@yourbluetophatroadto6888]

printer lore

[@chelseamedda9468]

thanks.🙂❤

[@TheLarryBrown]

Uh....what?

[@Vic-dd2ri]

@@TheLarryBrown ooga booga paper has color because color stick to paper

[@guywhodoesntgetthejoke9567]

I like how when I look at newest first the first 5 comments for me are literally just “Printer lore”

[@bluepink75357]

My brain at 3AM: How does a printer work on the inside? Me trying to sleep: 😩

[@coontent-tv]

This comment is older than your grandpa

[@mamunboruah8400]

😆

[@mamunboruah8400]

Sorry

[@SwissplWatches]

Kind of really incredible! The things we take for granted.

[@nasarquadri]

True!!😬

[@epictrollmanmoment]

printer lore

[@ericmiller881]

I understood more on how a Plumbus was made on rick and morty than this.

[@GeorgiNM]

Well that's because here they strategically didn't mention the Fleeb.

[@hamza-trabelsi]

loool true

[@safwanmuhaimin8263]

Still dont understand how much a Brapple is

[@jackfrost2146]

And I can get all this precise technology for $100, amazing!

[@DrR1pper]

Mapz Hmar Zate Thank goodness for economies of scale.

[@user-ij5gv6ji5b]

@DrR1pper Actually, the "economies of scale" didn't tell you the whole truth: Laser printers can emit a large amount of micro-particles from those toners when printing, that you can breath and will get not just in your lungs but in most other organs too, with unknown consequences since obviously the big interests of those "economies of scale" didn't allow research and regulation of those emissions yet, despite the decades they exist on the market. www.abc.net.au/health/talkinghealth/factbuster/stories/2011/06/22/3249217.htm They also didn't tell you that you might get a color laser printer for $100, but you will have to pay multiple times more when you'll need to buy new toners, so the actual cost is just hidden. That's one way to get cheap technologies today, the other one is via cheap labor like in china with the suicide nets in their inhuman factories -someone else is paying the cost. Bottom line: We need far more than "economies of scale"...

[@DrR1pper]

"Economies of scales" is referring only to the cost of the item being purchased of course, not the secondary costs (monetary or otherwise) that it may incur.

[@bobby45512]

Toner prices have dropped considerably.

[@hiluxntale6720]

It costs 35 dollars

[@davidw3534]

Both the animation and the narration/script are really well done. Thanks

[@chanelf.4934]

Very helpful, watched a 20 minute video on Laser printers with absolutely no graphics and a white board with a dull Expo marker. Thanks for making this video, visualization helps.

[@nicholaset3587]

thats some deep printer lore

[@user-xv3np9db4w]

some deeply enlightening music on this video. This is my favourite video of any printer. PERIOD!

[@Mika-ks1mp]

You treat me like a printer and feel so lore

[@izanazir7088]

I never knew Printer-chan had such a complex process inside his tummy. Respect to Printer-chan!

[@user-hh6nn2bb1i]

For anyone that doesn’t really get it here’s what I got: The printer pretty much creates an image with a laser on to a rolling pin thing. This attracts the ink. The paper then passes over the rolling pin which effectively places the ink on the paper This process occurs for each colour (I think) Then to make it smooth it goes through a tighter roller to press it to the paper

[@Frizzable]

googled how a laser printer works, now i gotta good how this toner stuff works to understand how a laser printer works

[@mfadhilal-fatih1427]

great broo

[@toomuchinformationforu9919]

I think you sum that up good

[@supremediscordmod5744]

Printer lore be lookin intersting tho😳

[@divertechnology]

Excellent animation.. and the transfer belt.. thats what im trying to figure it out how it works and how to avoid damage

[@ratheonhudson3311]

Wow I never know how it worked. Thank you

[@engelberthmartinez2295]

Amazing vid thank a lot for uploading this, now I know how my printer works.

[@HeroRareheart]

I just got an older laser printer someone threw out to replace our old ink one, it sucked and had tons of issues, and damn does it work better. Very interesting to see how it's internals work.

[@FindLiberty]

Beautiful animations - great job!

[@microsoftsarker]

Thanks, brother, it worked!! I watched many videos but only this worked!!

[@staror890]

great video , perfectly answered the quesiton

[@renanchagas7052]

Oh my god! Thats mind blowing!!! Full respect to laser printer now. Thank you

[@defiantcornball9115]

Ah yes, *PRINTER LORE*

[@albertwang5974]

wow, it's such a complex system

[@Greetsfuckers-GamingMain]

Yes its very impossible to repair

[@singadorito7802]

Ahhh now I see where the lore is

[@NOSCAM]

Wow HP really nailed it

[@naru2k4]

A marvel of engineering, this thing

[@theonewiththename5867]

So much complex technology we take for granted use every day and seriously dont come clise to comprehending

[@fridaee]

it's crazy that all of this happens in 5-10 seconds

[@sar8046]

Ah yes, Printer Lore.

[@windowsxpuserforever]

Helped me a lot to learn . Thanks .

[@50AHenry]

Very clever.With good quality paper (smooth finish) one can get EXCELLENT quality images - even with photos - and laser printers are not expensive. A WIN-WIN for everyone.

[@SergeantExtreme]

The thing I like about printing in toner is that you can FEEL the words on the paper. I guess you could say it's a nice touch.

[@shannonsminion]

Simply amazing!

[@jonas-fr]

There's a big evolution in the making by recycling in the printer itself unused toner (the one that didn't stick to the paper) in order to put it back in the cartridge and thus giving more prints per cartridges. This will be ecological and will allow for less bulky printers since a waste container won't be needed anymore.

[@edwinubod0405]

very simple and understand video

[@sofiathlm7947]

Printers are one of the coolest vthings created

[@XDarkstarZX]

This video is amazing. Thank you for sharing.

[@paulwharton1850]

Excellent video - I learnt a lot. Many thanks......all the way from London !

[@WillTesler]

Anything involving lasers simply blows my mind.

[@SuperEroticJesus]

So in other words a printer uses magic.

[@manansingh2723]

good explanation by animation really helpful

[@iggysixx]

Very clear and informative :)

[@SirBudd]

This is incredible how do you even think to put all this together

[@frnckncz]

Very well explained

[@greenearthblueskies8556]

I swear this is the best printer I ever purchased 🥰

[@starink1828]

Quite useful explain for colour toner cartridge.Starink toner cartridge- start different.

[@oww5588]

thanks for the video. this help a lot for me to study

[@kanudixit2645]

Awsm animations

[@yotus5918]

Aight I've entered the printer fandom

[@deadchannel7879]

Came here from printer lore

[@luckiic5714]

Wow now I understand how it works

[@Vintersemestre00]

nsf everywhere, JC

[@levargohard549]

It's amazing this happens within seconds

[@LemonChieff]

This is really amazing technology. I can't believe we use the same word for ink jet machines. It's like comparing a bath to a car wash.

[@yageishwaraparamasivan9866]

I've always been obsessed with copier machines and now i'm a fuji xerox technician for 3 years. I know exactly how the copier machine works...

[@Coronavirus-qw9xv]

The fact that you can use the money you make in like... a week if you're working class or a few days if you're middle class... to buy a machine like this... is nothing short of unbelievable. The fact that our technology is so advanced that 99% of us don't even know 99% of it works. I mean think back to medieval times... everyone knew how everything worked. Now... we don't. It literally might as well be magic... but we accept it. Crazy shit.

[@candle_eatist]

See, what we call magic today is what future folks will think is the simplest thing ever. Back then, if they didn't know how something worked they really did call it magic.

[@Poverty_Welder]

week? more like 6 months,

[@kylesmith9048]

@@Poverty_Welder 6 months?!?! Maybe if you make your money by finding coins on the ground.

[@squidscrew1339]

Olden days they don't have electricity. That is the difference. Most of the new things run around electricity.

[@blogegog]

I've wondered how these printers work for ~20 years.

[@macoygunida]

blogegog and is still wondering after watching this. Feelsbadman

[@hebelehubele872]

@@macoygunida q 2 ıq problems...

[@damncat2793]

They don't

[@greenearthblueskies8556]

@@damncat2793 😂

[@kevinharjan5210]

I am high ...and I always catch myself looking at these kind of videos questioning myslef 😅😅😭😭

[@gaddamnaveen1981]

Good how toner is working

[@Sitzkrieg]

i wonder if they have made ALL excess toner go through a scrubber now, instead of there being any waste that would be neat

[@makchung9755]

Does c2s paper with 100gsm work well with a laser printer? Or it depends if the paper is okay with laser printing?

[@dhananjaychaurasiyaarmy432]

Nice information

[@TheShouldoos]

That's pretty neat

[@Electronicview]

good show the process

[@omsingharjit]

Satisfying

[@SohelRana-hz9ck]

Nice video

[@MxitQeepNimbuzz]

on laser machines (printing) can one use tissue or tracing paper to print on?

[@lilakantaboro6659]

very usefull product

[@pradeeppress2254]

very good informations

[@dogetothemoon223]

So it is the same process as in black and white laser printers except that color printer uses multiple toner cartridges and the paper moves and collects the toner from each cartridge, before going into the fuser. Got it, thanks. I thought this would be a lot more complicated.

[@dangerofnothing]

It depends on the printer- Some collect all the colors on a belt and then transfers that to the paper. c:

[@marcboutilier7044]

I get it TLDR it uses negatively charged ink is attracted to the more positively charged specific surfaces making them stick, then it does the process over again on all the other ink until the image is formed.

[@Thatoneblackguy258]

I have heard some contradictions on this. In my textbook it claims that the laser knocks off the negative charge on organic photo conductor. Then when the negative toner is applied to the drum it is repelled by the remained negative charges and attracted to the neutral space on the drum.

[@unsealedabsurdfiles]

Yep, you are quite right... some printers use a intermediate transfer belt to join the paper later on also

[@Cyfix15]

wow, very complex

[@college7777]

can i use some part of this video in my youtube leacture?

[@AslanBehar]

When we think and question every technology, we simply lo se our mind.

[@Hyacinthus623]

Now I see the lore...

[@jw200]

When i use such devices i always think by who and when this all was invented? Who was that smart to make this? Is there any history with names, scientists etc who made it happen? Things do not come by theirselves. Somebody must have thinked alot for this printer to born.

[@unsealedabsurdfiles]

It would have been to develop it in the first place ;)

[@Jamokai]

R&D

[@Fuzy2K]

You might be interested in this, it's from an old show called the Secret Life of Machines, and it goes over the history of the photocopier and who came up with the technology... kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWOxenR6atahbac

[@aleksandersuur9475]

Yeah it's recorded en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerography Chester Carlson and Pál Selényi are the ones attributed for the basic process and Xerox for automating it. Names of people who were involved with the last effort can probably be found on patent applications.

[@HoIyGrail]

This is the inventor of the Laser Printer. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIupkoSfftmWobc

[@user-yb9cm2sg7r]

Wow Intressting 😮

[@dapdizzy]

Any simple yet explanatory description on how the precise color mixing works? His does the charge determine the precise amounts of certain colors to be attracted to the point such that after melting the color gets just right?

[@TheLarryBrown]

It doesn't blend the colors like you are thinking. Instead it dithers them, the same as your color TV. If you were to look at the print with a microscope you would see dots of only the CMYK colors, not the thousands of colors you are thinking. When those dots are arranged in the proper proportions your brain interprets them into the desired colors. That's the same way color TVs work with the RGB guns and posphers, there are really only those three colors on the screen and they are not blended. The blending happens inside your brain. Also the intensity of the printed dots is not varied the way you are thinking. Each dot is 100% intensity, so the laser doesn't need need to apply "a precise (varying) amount" like you are saying. It applies a precise amount, one dot, but it doesn't vary. Inkjets also work the same way. Some recent more advanced models can vary the size of the dot, but that's not how it's traditionally done.

[@dapdizzy]

@@TheLarryBrown oh thank you very much for your comment! I really appreciate it!

[@silvermoon3177]

For anybody wanting the name of the music its called ''Humanizing Technology''

[@JoeWithTheGlasses]

alkis - humanizing technology

[@JoeWithTheGlasses]

Google that exact phrase "alkis - humanizing technology", it's the first link from audiojungle. I'm in the US, so idk if that would affect whether or not results would be different for you if you are from another country.

[@vishalraj9302]

Lovely 💛

[@MirkWoot]

Wonderful machine, got so fed up with ink printers, nozzles clogging, drying out, etc. (not using original ink maybe didn't help to frustration). Laser printer just goes and goes, and fast!. never dries out, print doesn't smuge when a little wet. And on mine atleast i keep printing past when it says 0% toner left, using it all, not being hindered.

[@ThaurusFury]

Applause to the cameraman's skills

[@adibasdas]

is the toner always negative charged? my physics book says toner is positively charged. could it happen in both ways?

[@StaticControl]

Thank you for the question! Printers can be designed to use positively or negatively charged toner, but not both. HP® designs their systems around negatively charged toners while some other manufacturers opt for a positive charge. Understanding the polarity of the charge is just the first step. The strength or degree of charge is critical and widely variable from system to system.

[@adibasdas]

thank you so much for your answer :)

[@malikbrahimi7504]

+Static Control Is the paper positively charged to attract the negatively charged toner? If so, can toner be removed by applying a positive charge to repel the particles? How can one go about applying charges?

[@StaticControl]

The paper is not positively charged. There is an electrostatic transfer belt (ETB) in the printer that uses a positive charge to attract the toner from the OPC to the paper. It is visible near the beginning of the video (approx. 00:11). During printing, the paper is conveyed in between the ETB and the OPC drum with the toner image transferring directly to the paper. The toner particles are then fused onto the paper. So no, you could not repel the toner particles once they have been melted to the page.

[@qwertykeyboard5901]

+Malik Brahimi hopefully but make sure that dream comes true :)

[@pressgurkan]

What about the intermediate transfer belt and transfer belt cleaner?

[@donnythedingo]

so..... magic.

[@lloyd165]

this is cool technology when it works for the first 3 times you use a printer

[@Petertronic]

Had terrible problems on my HP2600 with background mottling across the page even on Black only prints

[@BlenderRookie]

So basically it's doing it in the same methodology as an actual printing press where they use engraved drums to physically press the image in different stages for different colors and keeping it all lined up in order to create a color image. But the difference is the method of applying toner to the drum is done electrostatically instead of physical chemical adhesion like with ink.

[@thilagarajvibes]

hi blender rookie

[@BlenderRookie]

Hello thilak raj...