Xerox 9700

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The Xerox 9700 – World’s First True Digital Press

 

Xerox 9700, introduced to the graphic arts industry in 1978, was the first true digital press. It printed 7,200 8.5 x 11 inch sheets an hour at 90,000 pixels per square inch, exactly the same production speed as the MultiLith offset press it put out of business. As a consultant to Xerox, I helped incorporate Times Roman and other fonts into the press, and later applied software that enabled the Xerox 9700 to emulate the typesetting equipment used at the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO).

The result was the first production volume plain paper proofer. The GPO, using the Xerox 9700 along with my additions, could now produce typesetting proofs without the expense of photographic paper, processing equipment, and lithographic chemistry. Production time was cut by four days per job, eliminating hang tape delays. My work helped the government save the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of dollars in printing costs annually.