
Large format printing can be challenging if you make mistakes before or during the printing process—even little ones. Fortunately, you can take certain steps to avoid these errors and ensure your large prints come out correctly the first time. Getting your prints right from the start will save you more money in printing costs. It will also save you more time.
Here, we'll look at some specific ways to spot errors before they happen. You'll also learn how to resolve these issues and prevent them from happening again. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When it comes time to plot a large drawing, you don't want to waste time, ink, and money on failed prints.
Knowing what kinds of plotter printing mistakes you might face can help you avoid them. There are many potential printing mistakes that can affect your large format prints. These could include some of the following:
Failing to Convert RGB to CMYK
Using Too Much Text
Printing Low-Resolution Images
Not Understanding Error Codes
To avoid other potential mistakes with plotter printing, you should adhere to some of the following design and drafting best practices:
Develop Solid CAD Standards
Avoid Including Unnecessary Details
Look Over All Drafts

The following are some common flexographic printing defects that can impact print quality and other aspects of your projects:
Mottling
Skip Out
Belt Buckle
Pinholing
Filling In
Looking for the best printing solution for your next plotter printing project? HP is here to help with a wide selection of reliable large format printers.
Contact us today to discuss your printing needs with us.
Download our eBook now and discover how innovation is streamlining workflows, producing prints of unmatched quality and increasing IT efficiency like never before.
Download eBook now
Why Using HP MFP for Scanning Helps Reduce Rework
Cost-Effective Printing of Safety Plans and Wayfinding Information
How to Make Your Printer Faster for Urgent Blueprints
Paper-Saving Techniques When Printing AEC Blueprints
Plotter Care Habits That Keep Your Blueprints Job-Ready
How Scheduling Plotter Saves Electricity Costs
Remote Printing Guide to Increase AEC Workflow Efficiency
Cut AEC Operating Costs With HP Plotters
How HP Click Can Streamline Working Processes
6 Tips to Portfolio Printing for AEC Professionals

Blueprint Annotation Guide: How to Add Notes that Stay Sharp on Paper

Printing topographical maps: What AEC professionals should know

A guide to large format printing for architects and designers

How GIS mapping tools support large format printing for civil engineering

How to use large format plotters for facility management floorplans

Common mistakes and fixes for poor-quality blueprints

Common print file types for blueprints explained

Common printing mistakes: How to avoid costly errors in large format jobs

Digital vs paper: When to print architectural drawings and when to share digitally

Best practices for marking up and revising printed architectural plans

HP DesignJet T850 36-in Multifunction Printer + HP Installation Service for DesignJet Series Entry Level (APJ)

HP DesignJet T250 24-inch Compact Large Format A1 Plotter Printer + HP DesignJet T200/T600 Automatic Sheet Feeder + HP Installation Service for Design

HP DesignJet T650 24-in Printer + HP Installation Service for DesignJet Series Entry Level (APJ)

HP DesignJet T650 36-in Printer + HP Installation Service for DesignJet Series Entry Level (APJ)
©2026 HP Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.