Dot Matrix (Needle) Printing
The print is formed by a print head which consists of a set of pins driven forward by the power of electromagnets. The print head moves line by line along the sheet, with the pins hitting the paper through the ink-soaked ribbon to form a dot matrix image. Dot matrix (needle) printers are used for printing monochrome texts.
Characteristic features of the print:
- dotted structure of text symbols is noticeable;
- slight indentation of each dot into the paper.
![Russian Federation. Passport issued in 2010: page spread (pages 2-3). Paper substrate](https://static-content.regulaforensics.com/Hardware-products/knowledge_hub/glossary_documents/DOT_MATRIX_NEEDLE_PRINTING/1l.webp)
a
![Russian Federation. Passport issued in 2010: the same. Personalization data. Dot matrix printer](https://static-content.regulaforensics.com/Hardware-products/knowledge_hub/glossary_documents/DOT_MATRIX_NEEDLE_PRINTING/2l.webp)
b
![Russian Federation. Passport issued in 2010: the same. Zoomed fragment. Dotted structure of the print. Uneven, blurry contours of the stroke](https://static-content.regulaforensics.com/Hardware-products/knowledge_hub/glossary_documents/DOT_MATRIX_NEEDLE_PRINTING/3l.webp)
c
![Russian Federation. Passport issued in 2010: the same. Personalization data. The ink layer left by the ink ribbon of the printer covers the substrate unevenly](https://static-content.regulaforensics.com/Hardware-products/knowledge_hub/glossary_documents/DOT_MATRIX_NEEDLE_PRINTING/4l.webp)
d
Fig. 1. Russian Federation. Passport issued in 2010:
a — page spread (pages 2-3). Paper substrate; b — the same. Personalization data. Dot matrix printer; c — the same. Zoomed fragment. Dotted structure of the print. Uneven, blurry contours of the stroke; d — the same. Personalization data. The ink layer left by the ink ribbon of the printer covers the substrate unevenly