Blog

The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) field in the Philippines demands precise and easily understood documentation. The field relies on complex designs, intricate blueprints, and detailed engineering schematics. Wide format printers bring all of these options in-house—provided you have the right wide format printing tips and processes for success.

For dedicated AEC professionals and CAD users in the area, mastery over these large-scale prints has become a requirement of the job. A fundamental element of project success, large format printers ensure every line and detail is perfectly reproduced. The resulting documents enable effective review, seamless collaboration, and accurate execution. Incorporate these large format printing tips to take advantage of the advanced capabilities of HP DesignJet wide format printing.

Tip 1: Calibrating Your Workflow from CAD to Print

Ensure what you see on your monitor is what emerges from your printer. One of the most important wide format printing tips proper calibration of your workflow is getting good calibration. Proper calibration enables consistency across prints in three key areas:

Line Weights

Line weights are the foundation of technical drawings. They communicate hierarchy and importance within your design. Your CAD software determines these weights by colour or thickness settings, but their translation to print can vary significantly. By establishing standardised line weight protocols for your entire team, you can be sure your output is always consistent.

Layers

Layers are a great way to organise complex drawings. With them, you can control the visibility and printability of different design elements. To prevent unnecessary details from cluttering your final output, always think carefully about which layers need to be enabled for your current printing purpose.

Scale

Scale accuracy may be the most critical aspect of printing a technical drawing. A common mistake is neglecting to verify scale settings before printing. When this happens, documents don't match intended dimensions. Make a habit of double-checking your drawing scale and page setup parameters before every print to avoid costly reprints or construction errors.

The HP DesignJet Advantage

HP DesignJet printers excel in providing consistent output in both line quality and colour reproduction. They feature advanced colour calibration systems so what you see on screen matches closely with your print output. The precision of the print delivers crisp and clean lines even at the smallest weights, so even highly detailed drawings maintain readability.

Tip 2: Choosing the Right Media for the Job

Your choice of media plays a large role in the appearance and durability of your prints. One of the more creativity-focused wide format printing tips is all about choosing the right option:

• Bond paper: This is the industry standard for everyday printing and internal reviews.
• Vellum: For more durable documentation with excellent transparency, vellum is a good option.
• Polyester Film: When the highest level of durability is required, this media is the best choice.
• Coated Papers: These are great for projects that need maximum visual appeal.

Process Enhancement

Effectively managing media profiles within your printing workflow can significantly improve your processes. Modern HP DesignJet printers have great automatic settings that detect the media type and adjust settings accordingly. However, custom profiles for frequently used materials can provide further optimised output. For consistency, document and share any profiles used across your team.

The HP DesignJet Advantage

Handling media can be a pain with some wide format printers. That's not the case with HP DesignJet printers—alongside following good wide format printing tips, it's important to have good hardware. These printers accommodate rolls of varying widths and can automatically switch between media types. This allows for maximum efficiency when switching materials. Meanwhile, the smart loading systems and built-in cutters reduce the risk of misfeeds, preventing waste.

Tip 3: Optimising Print Settings for Speed and Accuracy

Like with many things, wide format printing is a balancing act between speed and accuracy. Factors include resolution, print quality, and ink usage.

Higher resolution images take longer to print. Drafts can be printed at lower resolutions. For most technical drawings, a higher resolution is required. Often, the highest resolution is chosen for the most complex drawings or vital client presentations.

Print quality settings are similar. By lowering the quality of less important documents, print speed can be greatly increased.

Many printers have ink usage settings. Economy modes will use less ink per print, which is great for internal documents or drafts. Presentation-quality prints will use more ink and take longer to dry, but offer maximum visual impact.

The HP DesignJet Advantage

The HP DesignJet series has built-in ink optimisation technology that reduces ink usage even at higher quality settings. They also offer remarkable print speeds, further reducing the need to compromise. For even more efficient workflows, HP's advanced job management tools allow you to prioritise urgent prints, monitor progress remotely, and manage your print queue across multiple projects.

Tip 4: Effective File Preparation and Management

Taking the time to prepare and manage files properly will reduce printing problems and increase the consistency of your prints.

Industry standard software like AutoCAD, Revit, or SketchUp often has its own specific print drivers. These can produce more accurate results for that software than generic drivers. When printing, also verify that all external references are properly attached and your application print settings are correct.

PDF files have become a standard for large format printing due to their consistency across platforms. When creating these files for printing, embed all fonts and maintain vector information whenever possible. Before printing, verify that the page sizes accurately reflect your intended output dimensions.

Process Enhancement

By implementing rigorous pre-flight checks before printing your final documents, you enhance your processes with fewer errors. Verify critical elements like scale, title blocks, revision information, and approval stamps. Use a standardised file archiving system that will let you keep both the native files and the print-ready outputs.

The HP DesignJet Advantage

HP DesignJet printers include robust software integration with leading design applications, providing reliable drivers that accurately interpret the complex files these programs produce. HP software can also automatically detect page sizes, orientation, and scale to reduce user errors and ensure all team members get the same consistent results.

Tip 5: Maintenance and Troubleshooting for Consistent Results

Preventive maintenance reduces downtime and keeps print quality consistent for the life of your printer. As far as wide format printing tips go, routine maintenance is non-negotiable for reliable performance.

• Clean printheads at regular intervals
• Monitor ink levels and keep replacement cartridges on hand
• Regularly calibrate colour profiles

Issues like streaking and fading often indicate specific maintenance needs. Thoroughly review your printer's troubleshooting documentation and develop protocols to quickly identify and resolve problems. Maintain a log of troubleshooting actions to identify recurring problems that might need professional help.

The HP DesignJet Advantage

HP DesignJet printers have built-in maintenance systems with self-diagnostic capabilities. Potential issues are detected early and reported to users through comprehensive, easy-to-understand error messages. The printers have a modular design that makes replacement of consumable parts easy.

How HP Technology Simplifies Wide Format Printing for AEC

AEC professionals in the Philippines can gain a competitive advantage by mastering wide format printing with these wide format printing tips. These machines allow for improved clarity in communication, reduce errors, and shorten project timelines. HP DesignJet technology is a leader in the market. Now is a great time to take advantage of HP's DesignJet promo to see for yourself how these devices can improve your AEC business.