Printerplotters

Printerplotters are a type of large-format output device that produces vector graphics. Unlike raster printers which create images from tiny dots, plotters draw lines using pens or other tools. This makes them ideal for technical drawings, architectural plans, engineering schematics, and other applications requiring precise lines and smooth curves. Early plotters were mechanical, moving a pen across a flatbed or drum.

There are several types of plotters. Drum plotters use a roller to move paper while a pen moves horizontally. Flatbed plotters move a pen across a stationary sheet of paper. Pen plotters were the most common type for many years, utilizing multiple pens of different colors and thicknesses. More modern devices, often referred to as large-format printers, have largely replaced traditional pen plotters. These often use inkjet or electrostatic technology to achieve similar results with higher speed and greater detail, but the underlying principle of creating precise line-based output can be seen as an evolution of plotter technology. The term "plotter" is still sometimes used, especially in legacy contexts or for specialized industrial applications.