If you are considering a new plotter/printer, you may wonder whether you should buy a postscript model. While non-postscript printers are generally less expensive, there are several reasons why a postscript printer may be a better choice for you.
What are Postscript Plotters?
PostScript plotters are known for their high-quality output, making them popular for printing detailed technical drawings, blueprints, and other graphics-intensive documents. In addition, because PostScript is a universal printing language, these plotters can produce consistent and accurate results across various applications and programs.
Postscript allows the printer to render text and graphics accurately and precisely on the page. And, because Postscript is a page description language, it is used for printing documents that integrate text, images, and color area fills.
Pictured: Postscript output vs non-Postscript printing on HP DesignJet
This attribute means that your documents and images will have sharp, clean lines and smooth gradations of color. This feature makes them a good choice for graphic design and publishing professionals who need to print high-quality documents regularly.
Enhanced Image Technology
Postscript promotes a smooth shading feature and renders gradient fills at the resolution of the printing system, reducing print time to improve output quality. Smooth shading also significantly reduces banding from desktop and large format printers.
Increased Font Set
You also get an extended Font Set that increases the number of standard fonts with Postscript. While there is no standard set of required fonts, Adobe PostScript 3 devices typically use an extended set of 136 fonts built into the PostScript interpreter.
HP Postscript Large-Format Printers
Exploring the wide range of HP plotters available, you’ll notice that some model numbers are followed with a PS, designating Postscript. These initials indicate that these models are pre-loaded with the Adobe PDF print engine (Postscript) and can natively understand and process the PDF language.
Examples of popular HP Postscript Plotters
DesignJet XL3600 PS
The XL 3600 is HP’s mid-level PS printer designed for light production printing. The onboard Postscript allows for the direct printing of PDF files. This feature is crucial to the workflow of today’s AEC firms, and most architectural drawings and construction plans are shared as PDF files.
This DesignJet XL offers many ways to submit a print job. These options include direct printing from a USB flash drive; a network shared folder, email printing, HP driver for Windows, HP Print Service for Android, Apple AirPrint driver for macOS and iOS, and others.
Learn more about the HP DesignJet XL3600 PS
DesignJet Z6 PS Printer
The HP Z6 is a printer designed for professional photographers, graphic artists, designers, and print providers who want to create high-impact indoor prints reliably and accurately. Postscript lets these users produce incredibly high-quality images. In addition, onboard PS helps the machine print faster by processing complex files with the PDF engine.
The HP Z6 plotter can also emulate PANTONE colors for complete color accuracy. Like the other DesignJet models, the Z6 offers multiple ways to submit print jobs. These options are via Apple AirPrint, direct printing from a USB flash drive, email printing, HP Click, HP driver for macOS, HP driver for Windows, HP driver for Linux, printing support for Chrome OS, HP Print Service Plugin for Android, HP Smart app for iOS and Android, HP SmartStream.
Learn more about the HP DesignJet Z6 PS Printer
Summary
In short, while non-postscript printers may be less expensive, a postscript printer offers several benefits that make it a worthwhile investment. When exploring technical plotter or large-format graphics printer options, give the Postscript models some extra consideration. Because of their exceptional printing quality, versatility, and ease of maintenance, postscript printers are a smart choice for anyone who needs to produce high-quality printed documents regularly.
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