Key Features of the HP Z-Series Plotters
Marketing firms, schools, GIS departments, and retailers all face a common challenge: producing eye-catching, short-term signage on a tight schedule without overpaying for outsourced printing.
Traditional print methods often increase costs, slow down turnarounds, and limit the types of media that can be used.
Enter the HP Z-Series Plotters, a versatile line of large-format printers perfectly tailored to help you produce vibrant, durable, and budget-friendly graphics on demand.
At Steven Enterprises, we’ve seen organizations use the HP Z-Series to slash costs by as much as 40% while effectively doubling their output speeds.
Keep reading to learn why the Z-Series is the secret weapon for your short-term signage and graphic projects.
Who Needs HP Z-Series Plotters?
Below are three of the most common groups that benefit immediately from these devices.
1. Marketing Firms & Event Teams
Outsourcing trade show graphics and large banners can lead to high costs, long wait times, and inconsistent quality.
How the HP Z-Series helps: In-house printing with a 44-inch or larger HP Z6 or HP Z9 means you can generate full-color banners, pop-up displays, or backdrop panels at the push of a button.
2. Schools & Universities
Most campuses need seasonal or event-specific signage, like orientation week “welcome” banners, open house yard signs, or commencement ceremony backdrops — but outsourcing can be slow and expensive.
How the HP Z-Series helps: With an HP Z-Series Plotter, schools can quickly create weather-resistant promotional materials. The pigment-based ink in the HP Z-Series can last up to six months outdoors under mild conditions, making it perfect for short-term campus way-finding signs, donor campaign banners, or A-frame stand inserts.
Universities often print vinyl or polypropylene A-frame signs to guide campus tours. Because polypropylene is tear-resistant and can handle high ink saturation, it’s ideal for directional signage that must withstand repeated handling or exposure to the elements.
3. Grocery Stores & Retailers
Retailers constantly update promotions — weekly specials, seasonal sales, and holiday deals. Sending each new design to a print shop is both costly and time-consuming.
How the HP Z-Series helps: With an HP Z-Series Plotter, retailers can produce vibrant window displays or point-of-sale posters in-house with fade-resistant pigment inks.
These inks can endure up to six months of UV exposure without significant fading, allowing you to create timely, large-scale retail graphics at a fraction of the usual outsourcing cost.
4. GIS Departments
Most municipal and governmental planning offices rely on precise, large-scale maps for city planning, infrastructure updates, or aerial imaging. Outsourcing each new revision can be slow and costly, mainly when last-minute changes occur.
How the HP Z-Series helps: With an HP Z6 Plotter, GIS professionals can print high-resolution, detail-oriented maps and schematics in-house, ensuring that line work, color-coded overlays, and small text remain crystal clear.
Because the Z6 offers pigment-based inks and precise line rendering, everything from topographic contours to road networks looks sharp and true to scale.
Key Features and Benefits of the HP Z-Series
1. Versatile Media Handling
One of the standout advantages of HP Z-Series Plotters is their ability to handle a variety of printing materials, from basic bond paper to polypropylene and adhesive vinyl.
This versatility allows you to create signage and graphics that can withstand more wear and tear than a standard paper poster.
For instance, polypropylene is a semi-rigid thermoplastic that’s durable, resistant to tearing, and capable of handling high ink saturation for vivid colors. This is ideal for short-term displays that might be handled frequently or placed on foam board for easy transport.
2. Variable Size Options
The HP Z-Series comes in 24-, 44-, and 64-inch models, ensuring there’s an option to match both your available floor space and your typical signage requirements:
- 24″ Model: Ideal for tight office spaces or smaller projects.
- 44″ Model: The most popular choice for general signage, trade show graphics, and point of sale materials—provides plenty of printing width without overwhelming your workspace.
Note: If you regularly switch between different paper types or sizes (e.g., adhesive vinyl and photo paper), you can save time by choosing a dual-roll configuration. This allows you to load two types of media simultaneously—no constant swapping.
Select HP Z-Series models (specifically, the 44-inch HP Z6 or Z9) also offer a vertical trimmer, which is a built-in cutting tool that trims off both edges of your print for cleaner borders and more efficient finishing.
- 64″ Model: This is ideal for niche markets that produce extra-large banners, such as specialized retail displays, entertainment venues, or any organization regularly needing signage over five feet wide.
3. Pigment-Based Ink for Outdoor Durability
HP’s pigment-based inks offer impressive color vibrancy and better outdoor resilience than typical dye-based inks. Your signage can last up to six months without significant fading under moderately controlled conditions (e.g., out of direct rain, but perhaps exposed to some humidity or sunlight).
That’s a huge benefit for short-term outdoor banners or in-store window displays that endure fluctuating interior or exterior conditions. Although these prints won’t hold up indefinitely in harsh weather, they can withstand the usual wear and tear of short promotional runs.
HP Z9 vs. HP Z6: Which Model is Right for You?
Choose the HP Z6 for Streamlined Signage and Graphics
- Six-Color Setup: The Z6 features a six-color ink system optimized for sharp lines, solid areas of color, and excellent gradients. It’s perfect for short-term signage, banners, and general graphics.
- Ideal for: Marketing teams, schools, retailers, and GIS departments who need sharp lines and vibrant color but don’t require ultra-precise color matching.
Pick the HP Z9 for Elevated Color Accuracy
- Nine-Color Setup and Optional Gloss Enhancer: The Z9 can achieve incredibly accurate colors, deeper blacks, and smoother gradations.
- Ideal for: Businesses or departments that demand color perfection (e.g., fine art studios, high-end brand agencies).
How to Make the Most of HP Z-Series Plotters
- Choose the Right Media. For high-traffic signage — like store displays or campus way-finding — durable materials (e.g., polypropylene or vinyl) help prints last. Consider high-quality photo paper for color-rich photography or premium trade show visuals.
- Stay on Top of Maintenance. Simple tasks like cleaning printheads and running occasional calibrations ensure you’ll consistently get top-notch prints.
- Consider Dual Roll & Vertical Trimmer. Switching between different paper sizes or materials? The dual-roll feature is a huge time saver. Coupled with the vertical cutter, you can produce nearly borderless prints at scale.
- Upgrade to the Z9 for Color-Critical Work. The Z9’s expanded ink set makes a noticeable difference for brand-accurate hues or detailed photographic prints. If color fidelity is your priority, that extra investment pays off in quality.
Transform Your Workflow with the HP Z-Series Plotter
Need short-term banners, point-of-sale posters, or GIS map prints that pop? There’s a Z-Series model with the speed, durability, and color accuracy you need.
Contact our team at 800-491-8785 or fill out our contact form for expert, personalized guidance. Let’s help you find the perfect match today.