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HP DesignJet 4500
42" technical / CAD plotter
- Model4500
- Prints42" wide
- Score56/100
Authorized HP dealerGenuine hardware & ink
Manufacturer warrantyExtension plans available
Free shippingContinental U.S.
Plotter specialistsAEC experts, not just sellers
Analyst take
- The HP DesignJet 4500 is a discontinued 42-inch color and monochrome printer with dual-roll handling and automatic roll switching.
- Its strongest AEC fit is recurring CAD, PDF, GIS, and color coordination output where two ready rolls reduce interruptions.
- It does not scan or copy, and it has no USB port.
Not sure if the 4500 is right for you?
Compare key specs and an AI analyst read-out against similar models.
- Wide-format reach Prints up to 42" wide on rolls and sheets.
- Connectivity Ethernet for shared team printing.
- Analyst score Scores 56/100 in our class-relative rating.
Overview
Built for the work
HP DesignJet 4500 printer EN box1 + box2, HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, TIFF, 8 (2 each black, cyan, magenta, yellow), Paper (plain, inkjet, coated, heavyweight coated, super heavyweight coated, semi-gloss, glossy,…, > 0.4, 6889.8" (175 m), 7.09" (18 cm)
Spec Analysis
overall
overall
Expert analysis
What you should know
Key takeaways
- The HP DesignJet 4500 is a discontinued 42-inch color and monochrome printer with dual-roll handling and automatic roll switching.
- Its strongest AEC fit is recurring CAD, PDF, GIS, and color coordination output where two ready rolls reduce interruptions.
- It does not scan or copy, and it has no USB port.
- Its listed software support belongs to older Windows and Mac environments, so modern network deployment should be tested before purchase or redeployment.
- HP 90 inks and printheads are central to the supply plan for an operating unit.
- The HP DesignJet T918 36-in adds MFP capability but gives up 42-inch output width.
At 4:45 p.m., the person at the output tray does not care about a vintage spec sheet. They need a readable 36- or 42-inch plan, the right paper loaded, and no argument with the printer before a permit set leaves the building. The discontinued HP DesignJet 4500 remains relevant in installed AEC environments because it was built around that sort of production work: dual rolls, automatic roll switching, an automatic cutter, and networked HP-GL/2 and HP-RTL output.
This is a large-format color and monochrome printer, not a scanner or copier. It suits offices still producing recurring CAD drawings, coordination sheets, GIS maps, and color-marked construction documents on roll media. Its age matters, though. The supported operating-system list is from an earlier Windows and Mac era, there is no USB port, and continuity depends on the condition of the specific unit, its network setup, and available HP 90 supplies.
42" (1067 mm)Maximum media widthCovers common 24-, 36-, and 42-inch roll work.
1000 ft2/hrMaximum rated print speedHP’s maximum speed is measured in Fast mode on HP Bright White Inkjet Paper (bond).
+/- 0.1%Line accuracyUseful context for scaled technical drawings.
408 lbPrinter weightThis is a print-room machine, not something to shuffle around after lunch.
Where the dual-roll setup earns its floor space
The practical advantage here is media readiness. Two rolls with automatic switching let a department keep, for example, bond on one roll and coated paper or another drawing width on the other. That reduces roll changes when a civil team needs 36-inch plan sheets while a project manager needs color coordination drawings. The optional stacker and optional automatic inline folding device can also matter in a centralized print room, where an operator is feeding several jobs rather than babysitting one plot at a time.
HP lists a maximum 42-inch media width and supports plain, inkjet, coated, heavyweight coated, tracing, photo papers, and film. It also lists a minimum line width of 0.00295 inches and line accuracy of +/- 0.1%. Those figures point to a sensible role in CAD line work, marked-up PDFs, and presentation-oriented technical graphics, provided the machine is calibrated and maintained properly. HP’s quoted maximum speed is not a promise that a mixed bid set will land in the stack at that pace; file processing, media changes, cutting, and output handling still take their turn.
Bottom line: Dual rolls help most when different teams need different paper before the same deadline.
Use the estimator to turn the rated speed into a starting point, then leave time for the parts of the job no printer specification can fold away.
One set: – · Weekly plotting time: –
Computed from the manufacturer's rated 1,000 ft²/h. Real-world mixed sets run slower — treat this as a best case for comparing machines, not a promise.
Workflow fit, network reality, and supplies
For older AEC networks, the wired Ethernet connection, HP Embedded Web Server, internal HDD, and HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, and TIFF support are the useful parts of the story. Those languages fit many established CAD plotting workflows. The bundled HP Designjet software supported Windows and Macintosh systems of its period. Modern deployment deserves a test, not optimism wearing a tie: the listed compatible systems stop at Windows Server 2003 and Mac OS X 10.4, and the printer has no USB port.
The printer uses four cartridges and eight printheads, with two printheads each for black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Black is pigmented; cyan, magenta, and yellow are dye based. Buyers maintaining an existing unit should confirm the actual supply configuration before committing to it. The resolved consumable family is HP 90 for both ink and printheads, alongside listed maintenance items. A working printer without a planned supply and service path is just a very large conversation piece.
Bottom line: This machine fits a supported legacy workflow better than a modernized, security-managed print environment.
How it sits in the catalog
The closest listed in-family alternative is the discontinued HP DesignJet T918 36-in, which adds scanner/MFP capability but is narrower at 36 inches. That makes the choice fairly plain. Keep the 4500 where 42-inch output and dual-roll production are the job. Consider the T918 only where scan-and-copy workflow matters more than wider plotting, and only after checking the same legacy-support questions.
For a 44-inch alternative, the current Canon GP-4000 44-in is worth comparing on width and current-status grounds, but it is not a like-for-like verdict based on one specification. Look at the side-by-side comparison and then test the files, paper, and finishing routine that actually create your bottleneck. A fast machine that leaves prints on the floor is still creating work. See its position in the technical-printer class ranking as one more input, not a substitute for a workflow trial.
Bottom line: The 4500 is an installed-base production printer, not a casual replacement choice.
Compare the practical alternatives
The read
The HP DesignJet 4500 still makes sense for an AEC department that already has one in dependable condition, regularly needs 42-inch roll output, and can support its older network and supply requirements. It is less appropriate for firms needing scan/copy functions, current operating-system support, or a clean path into a newer managed-print environment. Check the service history, Ethernet compatibility, media path, cutter, roll switching, and supply plan before treating a low acquisition hurdle as a victory. Bottom line: If it prints your real drawings reliably, it can earn its keep; if it cannot, deadline day will find out first.
Spec analysis
How the specs grade
Overall performance
- This printer
- Epson SureColor T5270DR
Category leaders best technical / CAD plotters, by dimension
Verified specifications
The specs that decide it
| Number of print cartridges | 4 |
|---|---|
| Page description languages | HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, TIFF |
| Internal memory | 256 MB |
| Media thickness | > 0.4 |
| Maximum roll diameter | 7.09" (18 cm) |
| Ethernet | Yes |
Specifications
Full technical detail
Max print width42"
ConnectivityEthernet (Gigabit LAN)
Use caseCAD / Technical
Printing
| Print head | 8 (2 each black, cyan, magenta, yellow) |
|---|---|
| Print head nozzles | 524 (per printhead), 1048 (per colour in Double Swath configured) |
| Print speed footnote | Printed in Fast mode on HP Bright White Inkjet Paper (bond). Speed indicated is maximum printer speed. |
| Print speed (imperial) | 1000 ft2/hr |
| Color printing technology | HP Color Layering technology, HP PhotoREt III |
| Number of print cartridges | 4 |
| Page description languages | HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, TIFF |
| Print time color line drawing (draft, A1) | Up to 25 sec/page |
| Print speed (color image, draft quality, coated paper) | 30.8 m2/hr 331.3 ft2/hr |
Performance
| Memory slots | 2x DIMM |
|---|---|
| Storage media | HDD |
| Memory upgrade | 0.512 GB |
| Internal memory | 256 MB |
| Memory technology | Dual data rate DRAM technology (DDR) to maximize memory speed |
| Built-in processor | Intel® Celeron® |
| Processor frequency | 2000 MHz |
| Drive device, buffer size | 20000 MB |
| Internal storage capacity | 40 GB |
Paper handling
| Media handling | Two rolls, automatic roll-switching, automatic cutter, optional stacker, optional automatic inline folding device |
|---|---|
| Paper handling | Two rolls, automatic roll-switching, automatic cutter, optional stacker, optional automatic in-line folding device |
| Media thickness | > 0.4 |
| Roll top margin | 0.197" (5 mm) |
| Maximum media width | 1067 mm |
| Maximum paper trays | 2 |
| Maximum roll length | 6889.8" (175 m) |
| Duplex print options | None |
| Maximum print length | 6889.8" (175 m) |
| Standard media sizes | A3, A2, A1, A0 |
| Maximum roll diameter | 7.09" (18 cm) |
| Media types supported | Paper (plain, inkjet, coated, heavyweight coated, super heavyweight coated, semi-gloss, glossy, natural tracing, photo), film |
| Recommended media weight | 50 – 328 g/m² |
| Media weights by paper path | All paths: 50 to 328 g/m2 |
| Paper handling standard/output | Optional stacker |
| Media thickness (by paper path) | All paper paths: up to 157 mil |
Ports & interfaces
| USB port | No |
|---|---|
| Ethernet LAN | Yes |
| RJ-45 ports quantity | 1 |
| Firewire (IEEE 1394) ports | 1 |
Weight & dimensions
| Weight | 407.9 lbs (185 kg) |
|---|---|
| Size (imperial) | 76" |
| Weight (imperial) | 408 lb |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 76 x 31.5 x 53.1" (1930 x 800 x 1350 mm) |
| Maximum dimensions (W x D x H) | 76 x 31.5 x 53.1" (1930 x 800 x 1350 mm) |
| Product dimensions when open (LxWxD) | 76" |
Power
| Power requirements | Input voltage: 100 to 127 VAC (+/- 10%), 6 amp; 220 to 240 VAC (+/- 10%), 3 amp; 50/60 Hz (+/- 3 Hz); auto range |
|---|---|
| Power consumption (off) | 1 W |
Operational conditions
| Storage temperature (T-T) | -20 – 55 °C |
|---|---|
| Operating temperature (T-T) | 41 – 104 °F |
| Operating altitude (imperial) | 10000 ft |
| Storage relative humidity (H-H) | 0 – 95% |
| Operating relative humidity (H-H) | 20 – 80% |
| Recommended operating temperature range (T-T) | 15 – 30 °C |
Other features
| Safety | Compliant with IEC 60950, including EU LVD and EN60950, CSA-certified for US and Canada, Mexico NYCE, Argentina IRAM, Singapore PSB, Russia VNIIS, NEMKO, China CCC, Taiwan BSMI |
|---|---|
| Ink drop | 5 pl (colour), 15 pl (black) |
| Functions | Color printing, black-and-white printing |
| Typefaces | None |
| UNSPSC-code | 43212107 |
| Control panel | Illuminated, graphical LCD display area; 8 front-panel buttons (Back, Cancel, Down arrow, Form Feed and Cut, Power, Reset, Select, Up arrow); 2 LEDs (Power, Status); On/Off buzzer |
| Line accuracy | +/- 0.1% |
| Driver updates | Latest driver upgrade information available on http://www.designjet.hp.com |
| Printer features | Color printing, black-and-white printing |
| Line width minimum | 0.003 in |
| Minimum line width | 0.00295" (0.0750 mm) |
| Printer management | HP Embedded Web Server |
| Roll maximum input | 2 |
| Technical features | Outstanding printing performance Large input and output capacity Accurate lines and consistently high image quality |
| Embedded web server | Yes |
| Downloadable software | Scanner: WinXPe |
| All-In-One-multitasking | No |
| Maximum internal memory | 512 GB |
| Acoustic power emissions | 6.3 B(A) |
| Acoustic pressure emissions | 46 dB |
| Minimum system requirements | Windows NT 4.0: Pentium II 300 MHz, 64 MB RAM, 400 MB available hard disk space; Windows 98 SE, Me: Pentium 133 MHz, 48 MB RAM, 300 MB available hard disk space; Windows 2000, 2003 Server: Pentium II 300 MHz, 128 MB RAM, 400 MB available hard disk space; Windows XP: Pentium III 733 MHz, 128 MB RAM, 400 MB available hard disk space |
| Electromagnetic compatibility | Compliant with Class A requirements, including EU (EMC Directive), US (FCC rules), Canada (DoC), Australia (ACA), New Zealand (MoC), Japan (VCCI), Korea (MIC), Taiwan (BSMI) |
| JetDirect Compatible Products | Y |
| Compatible ink types, supplies | Black: pigmented, CMY: dye based |
| Maximum print length (imperial) | 575 ft |
| Print quality (black, best quality) | 2400 x 1200 DPI |
| Print quality (color, best quality) | 2400 DPI |
| Print quality (black, draft quality) | 1200 DPI |
| Acoustic pressure emissions (standby) | 41 dB(A) |
| Media sizes standard (imperial rolls) | 24, 36, 42-in rolls |
| Print quality (black, normal quality) | 1200 DPI |
| Minimum system requirements for Macintosh | G3, G4, G5; 128 MB RAM; 256 MB available hard disk space; Mac OS X v 10.2.8, 10.3, 10.4 |
| Print quality, vertical alignment accuracy | +/- 0.0017 in +/- 0.04 mm |
Copying
| Color copy capability | No |
|---|
Logistics data
| Pallet weight | 447.5 lbs (203 kg) |
|---|---|
| Quantity per pallet | 216 pc(s) |
Packaging data
| Package weight | 501.1 lbs (227.3 kg) |
|---|---|
| Bundled software | HP Designjet software for Windows and Macintosh |
| Package weight (imperial) | 501.1 lbs |
| Package dimensions (WxDxH) | 83.9 x 30.5 x 52" (2130 x 775 x 1320 mm) |
| Package dimensions (W x D x H) | 83.9 x 30.5 x 52" |
Sustainability
| Sustainability certificates | ENERGY STAR |
|---|
System requirements
| Compatible operating systems | Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, NT 4.0 Server, 98 SE, 2000, Me, XP Home, XP Professional, Server 2003; Mac OS X v 10.2.8, 10.3, 10.4 |
|---|---|
| Recommended system requirements | Windows NT 4.0: Pentium III 733 MHz, 128 MB RAM, 2 GB available hard disk space; Windows 98 SE, Me: Pentium 133 MHz, 64 MB RAM, 320 MB available hard disk space; Windows 2000, 2003 Server: Pentium III 733 MHz, 256 MB RAM, 2 GB available hard disk space; Windows XP: Pentium IV 1 GHz, 256 MB RAM, 2 GB available hard disk space |
Input & output capacity
| Total number of input trays | 2 |
|---|
Everything that fits the HP DesignJet 4500
The full supplies hub lists every cartridge, printhead, roll and accessory verified against the manufacturer's own documentation for this machine.
12 ink cartridges · 6 printheads · 47 paper & media items · 2 accessories
HP DesignJet 4500 ink and paper →Supplies
Compatible ink, printheads & media
Genuine consumables that fit the HP DesignJet 4500 42-in — only the cartridges, printheads and media compatible with this model.
Ink Cartridges 12
HP RC Matte White
HP 90 3-pack 400-ml Yellow Ink Cartridges print head Thermal inkjet
HP 90 3-pack 400-ml Magenta Ink Cartridges print head Thermal inkjet
HP 90 3-pack 400-ml Cyan Ink Cartridges print head Thermal inkjet
HP 90 3-pack 775-ml Black Ink Cartridges print head Thermal inkjet
HP 90 400-ml Cyan Ink Cartridge
HP 90 400-ml Yellow Ink Cartridge
HP 90 400-ml Black Ink Cartridge
HP 90 400-ml Magenta Ink Cartridge
HP 90 225-ml Magenta Ink Cartridge print head Thermal inkjet
HP 90 775-ml Black Ink Cartridge
HP 90 225-ml Yellow Ink Cartridge print head Thermal inkjetPrintheads 6
Paper & Media 47
HP Q1733A printing paper Matte 1 sheets White
HP C3868A plotter paper 45.7 m 91.4 cm
HP C3869A plotter paper
HP RC Satin Proofing Paper-914 mm x 22.9 m (36 in x 75 ft)
HP Q1420A photo paper Brown, White
HP Matte Film 610 mm x 38.1 m (24 in x 125 ft)
Representative imageHP Bright White Inkjet Paper, 36 in x 300 ft (C6810A)
HP Reverse Print Matte Backlit Film
HP C6035A large format media 45.7 m
HP C6036A printing paper Matte White
HP C6567B plotter paper
HP White Glossy Opaque Polyester Film-1067 mm x 15.2 m (42 in x 50 ft)
HP Universal Semi-gloss Photo Paper
HP Clear Film 174 gsm-610 mm x 22.9 m (24 in x 75 ft)
HP Q1421A photo paper Brown, White
HP Reverse Print Matte Backlit Film
HP Reverse Print Matte Backlit FilmRepresentative imageHP Heavyweight Coated Paper, 42 in x 100 ft (C6569C)
HP Q1730A large format media 30.5 m
HP Q1956A large format media 67.5 m
HP Heavyweight Coated 1524 mm x 68.5 m (60 in x 225 ft) large format media Matte
HP C7949A large format media 30.5 m Matte
HP Q6579A photo paper Brown, White
HP Q6580A photo paper Matte
HP Q6581A photo paper
HP Q6583A photo paper Brown, White
HP Q6578A photo paper Brown, White
HP Q1441A large format media 45.7 m
HP Q1442A large format media 45.7 m
HP Q1444A printing paper Matte
HP Q1445A printing paper Matte
HP Universal Bond Paper 841 mm x 91.4 m large format media 3598.4" (91.4 m)
HP Q8004A large format media 91.4 m
HP Universal Bond Paper-914 mm x 152.4 m (36 in x 500 ft)
HP Q8677A printing film
HP Universal Adhesive Vinyl 914 mm x 20 m (36 in x 66 ft)
HP Q8751A large format media 175 m
HP Q8834A printing film
HP Q8835A printing film
HP CG490A large format media 30.5 m Semi-gloss
HP Premium Semi-gloss Proofing Paper-50 sht/A3+/330 mm x 483 mm (13 x 19 in)
HP CG459A photo paper Matte
HP Premium Matte Photo Paper-914 mm x 30.5 m (36 in x 100 ft) large format media
HP CG463A large format media 30.5 m Semi-gloss
HP CG462A printing paper Semi-gloss White
HP Vivid White Glossy Polyester Film
HP Vivid White Glossy Polyester Film
Questions
Straight answers
Can the HP DesignJet 4500 print 42-inch plans?
Yes. Its maximum media width is 42 inches, and HP lists 24-, 36-, and 42-inch roll sizes.
Is this a scanner, copier, and printer in one device?
No. The listed functions are color and black-and-white printing. Color copy capability is listed as no.
What kinds of AEC files and workflows suit it?
Its listed page description languages are HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, and TIFF, which aligns with established CAD plotting workflows. PDF workflow compatibility should be tested through the driver and network setup in use.
What supplies should a buyer verify?
Verify availability of HP 90 inks and HP 90 printheads, plus the required maintenance items. Confirm the supply configuration on the actual machine before relying on it for deadline work.
How much room does the printer need?
The printer measures 76 x 31.5 x 53.1 inches and weighs 408 pounds. Plan the location, access route, power, and roll-loading space before delivery or relocation.
Is the HP DesignJet T918 36-in a direct replacement?
Not exactly. The HP DesignJet T918 36-in is a discontinued 36-inch scanner/MFP alternative, while the 4500 reaches 42 inches and is focused on printing.
Ready to put the HP DesignJet 4500 to work?
Configuration, media and a quote tailored to your workflow — from AEC plotter specialists.