It mainly depends on how much money you have available to spend on a large format printer. I'm partial to the HP Designjet Printers. I feel that you get more bang for the buck (AND, I supported HP products in the DesignJet group for over 2 years).
We are currently running a DesignJet 5500 UV, and I have not had a single problem with it. We were running our prints on a designjet 800 previously, and didn't have too much trouble with that, other than speed. Our 5500 currently will print out an ARCH D (24x36 inch) size page in a little over 2 minutes (this is printed on a 36" roll). The other reason we opted for the 5500 was for the UV ink kit. The UV inks don't run and bleed when exposed to the elements. Previously with our 800, we would need to do quite a bit of reprints here and there due to the fact that plans were left out in the rain, or got to sunbleached etc. etc.
The Designjet 800 is a reasonable printer, but it would in no way keep up with our current production. Our 5500 is usually spitting out approx 500-700 feet of 36" paper on an average day.
The 800 is quite a bit slower, but it does render some nicely done prints (graphical) as well as linear data documentation. If your budget is even tighter than the 800. . .you could go to the 500. The 500 has the exact same print engine as the 800; it just doesn't have an onboard print processor card. Effectively this means that if you want to print out data from plotmaker to a 500, you would use the PRINT function instead of the PLOT function; as your pc would handle all of the print processing with the designjet 500.
EDIT: yes you can print transparencies on both the 5500, 800, and 500. The main thing to look for is that it has a white back on the media (this is pealed away at the completion of a print job), and that it is compatible with either the dye or UV (if you have a 5500) based inks.
Sorry for the book, but I hope that helps you some.
We are currently running a DesignJet 5500 UV, and I have not had a single problem with it. We were running our prints on a designjet 800 previously, and didn't have too much trouble with that, other than speed. Our 5500 currently will print out an ARCH D (24x36 inch) size page in a little over 2 minutes (this is printed on a 36" roll). The other reason we opted for the 5500 was for the UV ink kit. The UV inks don't run and bleed when exposed to the elements. Previously with our 800, we would need to do quite a bit of reprints here and there due to the fact that plans were left out in the rain, or got to sunbleached etc. etc.
The Designjet 800 is a reasonable printer, but it would in no way keep up with our current production. Our 5500 is usually spitting out approx 500-700 feet of 36" paper on an average day.
The 800 is quite a bit slower, but it does render some nicely done prints (graphical) as well as linear data documentation. If your budget is even tighter than the 800. . .you could go to the 500. The 500 has the exact same print engine as the 800; it just doesn't have an onboard print processor card. Effectively this means that if you want to print out data from plotmaker to a 500, you would use the PRINT function instead of the PLOT function; as your pc would handle all of the print processing with the designjet 500.
EDIT: yes you can print transparencies on both the 5500, 800, and 500. The main thing to look for is that it has a white back on the media (this is pealed away at the completion of a print job), and that it is compatible with either the dye or UV (if you have a 5500) based inks.
Sorry for the book, but I hope that helps you some.
The PS models have a bit more memory, and of course the postscript functionality with them. Now I'm not sure on the pricing, and what platform you are running on; MAC or PC. . .but in my past experience all that the PS model gives you is a bit more functionality with the older MAC OSses, and pulls a few more zeroes out of your wallet. If you are running on a current PC or MAC platform, you will NOT notice a difference in performance between the PS and standard model. The main thing to keep in mind is that with plotmaker you are actually outputting in GL/2 language and not postscript at all in the first place. So if you are mainly going to be printing from plotmaker / archicad, there won't be much reason to have the PS model. In my own opinion it's a bit much to pay for that Adobe sticker they put on the front of your printer. . . 
Steve wrote:We use both .PLTs and .PDFs, however we predominantly use .PDFs (creaded with Adobe Acrobat; I can't stand the Amiyuni converter myself. . .talk about a bloated print job). The only functionality that you would get from printing a .PDF with a postscript model printer, is the ability to FTP the .PDF directly to the printer. If all you do is what 98% of .PDF users do; open the file up in acrobat, set the print size, and hit print. . .you'd be wasting money for that PS sticker on the front of the 800.
Do you think a ps printer would make a difference printing .pdf's ? What do you make? .pdf or .plt ?
Still looking?
