A New Plotter/Poster Printer
Today we should receive an HP Designjet 800PS, which is a plotter/poster printer that can handle rolls of paper up to 42 inches wide. We’ve had and used an HP Designjet 500PS for three years, and we’re pretty amazed by what it can do.
For example, we’re now in the middle of printing science posters for US students. About 80 students will bring either large scale PowerPoint files (up to 36 x 52 inches) or InDesign projects (saved as PDFs) for full-color printing on glossy or semi-gloss paper. The resolution is ink-jet photographic quality, which is great for their images, text, graphs and other data. One student might have us print as many as three such posters for their science project, and we charge their accounts for only the cost of the materials. A 3 x 4′ poster might be $12 if done without a background, or $24 if done with a colored background. The colored background posters might take 20-30 minutes each to print.
We’ve bought a second unit (the 800PS) because now the Middle School science students want to do the same. The unit was expensive ($5,700), but the consumables are surprisingly affordable. We also use the printers to create photographic quality enlargements, signs for the development and admissions offices, posters for the theatricals, and a host of others around campus.
EdTech | Jim Heynderickx February 21, 2007
By hali, April 26, 2008 @ 6:18 am
Would like to what software you used to setup your posters for the 500ps. We are having problems using Publisher and Photoshop. Just had this left with us and no instructions. This is in a non-profit Museum and would like to just be able to get the computer and printer to get the correct size printed. Seem to have a mind of its own. Thanks for any help.