What is the term for a printed copy of information from a computer?

The term "hard copy" refers specifically to a physical printed document that is produced from a computer. This could be anything from a printed report to photographs or any other material that is tangible and can be held in hand.

When information is converted into a format that can be printed, it becomes a hard copy, distinguishing it from digital formats, which are accessed on screens. For example, when you print an email or a Word document, you are creating a hard copy of that information.

In contrast, a "soft copy" pertains to digital formats that exist on a computer or electronic device, such as files that you view on a screen without any physical representation. PDF and JPEG are specific file formats that can exist in either a soft copy or hard copy form, but the terms themselves do not denote the physical status of the document. Therefore, the correct terminology for a printed version of something is indeed "hard copy."