<h1>How to Choose a Plotter?</h1>

Articles and reviews on the topic of how to choose a plotter and what to focus on when selecting one are scarce on Czech internet. After all, this is not a commodity like a camera or a mobile phone, which is the subject of interest and desire for countless people, but rather a necessary work accessory for many users, which they only start to pay attention to if something goes wrong with it. Therefore, we decided to compile some experiences. At Copy General, we are not only a partner of HP for large-format printers, but we are also one of the largest users in the Czech Republic. Our facilities have seen an incredible number of them pass through.

General information about technologies, how to choose

Plotters used by architects and designers are more precisely large-format printers that use water-based inks. Manufacturers generally divide them into two groups – technical models, which are primarily intended for printing technical documentation, and graphic models, suitable mainly for printing photographs or posters.

Devices in these categories offer a range of useful features and design solutions that will make your life easier. However, it is certainly not the case that a plotter from the technical category cannot print a quality photo and vice versa. In many cases, for example, architects may choose a printer from the graphic series.

A plotter is a device that you acquire for at least 5 years, and the parameters in the product sheet do not always fully reflect future user satisfaction. What features are truly important for operation, and what should you focus on when selecting a new machine?

Printing costs

The costs associated with printing on a plotter are not solely determined by the price of the ink. The lifespan of the printhead and the ink used for automatic cleaning cycles are also important. Often, a considerable amount can be wasted by various manufacturers, even if you are not printing at all. How often will you need to replace the waste container? How often will you need a technician to visit during the printer's lifespan?

Overall productivity of the device

It is not only determined by the printing speed, although that is, of course, important as well. How well does the device print in the fastest printing mode, that is, at the speed indicated in the specifications? Is this output usable for you? (At Copy General, we use the fastest mode for printing documentation on HP devices, which is fully satisfactory). Find out how long it takes for the plotter to start printing at all, i.e., how long it takes to process the file. And finally – what happens if you have to submit work in an hour and the paper gets stuck in the plotter, or it experiences a "system error." The reliability of the device is therefore absolutely crucial for overall productivity.

Handling and construction

How much time will it take you to load a new roll into the plotter or collect prints from the bin and subsequently sort or trim them? Today's devices offer options for two automatically switched rolls or a vertical cutter – the printer can cut the format to the desired dimensions, both crosswise and lengthwise. Another feature can be, for example, a top output tray, where the drawings are organized in the correct order so you don't have to fish them out of the bin. What do we often deal with in our facilities, where every centimeter counts? It’s related to footprint dimensions and the overall robustness and durability of the entire construction.

Print quality, type of inks

Output quality depends on several parameters. How many ink colors does the printer use? Every additional color makes a difference. What type of inks does it use? It has generally always been true that dye-based inks (used by HP in the technical series of plotters) have better detail rendering and higher saturation on standard 80g papers, while pigment inks provide slightly higher water resistance. But the days of dye-based, i.e., technical ink smearing at the slightest contact with moisture are gone. On the other hand, the current generation of HP pigment inks can print technical details quite well.

Sending data for printing

This can frustrate many designers, so find out what options you have. HP has made things easier; for every current model, a freely available application is provided, allowing you to print with a live preview essentially with one click.

Multifunction – or not?

Gone are the days when acquiring a multifunction plotter, i.e., a printer, scanner, and copier in one, was a question of hundreds of thousands. Simple but fully functional HP multifunction devices can now be obtained for around 50,000 CZK. Everything is in the spirit of modern times and sharing – scan into the relevant app on your phone, directly send to email or Viber, etc. Architects dealing with renovations often appreciate the scanner or copier, as they no longer have to painstakingly piece together historical drawings in Photoshop from A4 or A3 sheets.

Do you want more detailed information? Check out our website.
Do you want advice or to purchase a plotter at "campaign prices"? We will help you with selection. We have years of practical experience. We are the largest user in the Czech Republic.


Copy General is the exclusive partner for HP PageWide XL technologies in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, an authorized partner of HP for large-format HP DesignJet plotters. Over 100 leading Czech companies are already using their printers. In 2018, they even won the HP Partner of the Year award.