Many printing applications rely on plotters because of their numerous benefits, including their unique scalability, precision, and quality capabilities. It's important to know more about plotter printers to make the right choice for your applications, such as printing architectural renderings, blueprints, posters, topographical maps, or other print materials that have benefitted from the disruption that plotter printers have brought.

Whether you're new to the print industry or a seasoned professional, this guide will cover just about everything there is to know about plotter printers. We’ll answer questions like "What is a plotter used for?" and "What is a plotter, and how does it work?" Knowing the answers to these can point you in the right direction when looking for the perfect plotter for your application, ensuring you get the most from this technology.

Unlike standard printers, plotter printers specialise in printing large-format prints of all types with professional levels of quality and precision. They use a unique mechanism to print all types of media, including architectural drawings, posters, blueprints, maps, and much more, using features you won't find with conventional printers.

Before getting a plotter, you must know about plotter printer functionality and what sets it apart from other print technologies.

Plotter printers are devices that use pens and paper to develop drawings based on commands from a computer. In using this mechanism, plotters are notably less efficient than other types of printers. However, they're capable of producing large prints of the highest quality and accuracy, making them ideal for many professionals.

You should also know about plotter printer components and what to look for in the right plotter.

This is the part of the printer that supplies ink and toner to the print media during operation, and it requires occasional cleaning and maintenance to function properly.

These parts provide paper to complete the print project. These mechanisms can use either roll or paper tray mechanisms to feed paper into the system.

The carriage assembly helps regulate the printer's temperature while also detecting errors during printing. In turn, this component ensures the printer works the way it should throughout operation.

A good plotter printer will also have a reliable, user-friendly control interface. Dependable plotter printers will often use a touchscreen interface that allows for easy setup and print customisation.

So, what is a plotter printer used for, exactly? Let's take a look at some specific applications for these printers:

Many applications in need of large or wide format prints will use plotters. If you must print large, high-quality prints with consistent accuracy and precision, plotters are often the right solution.

One specific application for plotter printers is technical drawings. Engineers, architects, and other professionals may use plotters to print everything from architectural and composite drawings to isometric projection and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) drawings.

Artists and graphic designers often depend on plotter printers to develop high-quality posters, artwork, and other types of prints, typically in a large format.

A topographical application for plotter printers could involve geographic information system (GIS) mapping, with the ability to produce detailed maps of streets, vegetation, and other geographical features.

The right plotter can also print all types of educational documentation, including signs, banners, school newspapers, and teaching aids, among other materials.

Professionals may use plotters to develop 2D models via computer-aided modelling (CAM) or computer-aided drawing (CAD) software.

In addition to applications, you should also know about plotter printer benefits and potential inconveniences before selecting a printer model.

Plotter printers offer several benefits that make them worth implementing in a wide range of applications, including:

The use of plotter printing technology allows for fine lines, intricate cuts, and improved quality across all prints. One element that helps with this is a vector image, which keeps quality consistent regardless of image size and complexity.

Using CAD or CAM software and other technology, it's easy to use plotters to print large- and wide-format images of all types with clear images and text.

Choose from a range of resolutions and other settings to print nearly any type of media with optimal precision and overall quality.

Using interfaces and software, it's easy to customise prints with your plotter based on unique project needs.

The best plotter printers offer superior durability and can last many years with proper use and maintenance.

While plotters come with multiple advantages over standard printers, there are some potential downsides to keep in mind, such as:

Plotters could be difficult to manage and program if an application is particularly complex. As such, you may need some expertise to get the most from your print application.

Cleaning and maintaining print heads and other equipment is essential in maintaining your plotter's functionality. Thankfully, automated maintenance and other features can help with this.

Some plotters may have limitations when it comes to colour options. As such, you'll want to ensure your plotter can maintain colour accuracy with sufficient ink and toner options.

Plotters can be considerably more expensive to purchase than standard printers, but this initial cost is often worth it as it allows professionals to print consistently high-quality media. Subsequently, businesses often see high ROI with these printers.

With some more knowledge about plotter printers and their capabilities, you can begin selecting the right option for your application. Regardless of your needs, HP has a selection of some of the best large format plotters and other printers on the market.

Get in touch with HP for more information about our plotter options and find the ideal solution today!