Background

IBM 3800-3

The first AFP printer was the IBM 3800-3 delivered in 1983. It had a single, fixed media origin or top, left-hand corneras shown by the shaded rectangle in Figure Fixed Media Origins for the IBM 3800–3 Printer. Print data could be placed to print across, down, or up the page. Across and down are shown. Page definitions, (pagedefs), were used to place the line data on the page. IBM provided page definitions for common line spacings for both portrait and landscape orientation. The two most common paper sizes used were 12" x 8.5" (shown on left) and 9.5" x 11" (shown on right). As shown below different page definitions are required to print the same output on the two different sizes of paper. For example an across page definition is used to print landscape output on 12" x 8.5" paper and a down page definition is used for landscape output on 9.5" x 11" paper. Forms, like 12" x 8.5", that have a width greater than their length are referred to as wide continuous forms and forms, like 9.5" x 11", that have a length greater than their width are called narrow continuous forms.

IBM 3820

In 1985 the IBM 3820 was introduced. It was the first IBM AFP cut-sheet printer. Like the 3800-3, it had a single, fixed media origin as shown. The 3820 could print in the same directions as the 3800-3 plus one new direction, back. As shown below it had similar print direction characteristics to a 3800-3 using 9.5" x 11" paper.