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HP DesignJet 5500UV
60" color graphics & photo printer
- Model5500UV
- Prints60" wide
Authorized HP dealerGenuine hardware & ink
Manufacturer warrantyExtension plans available
Free shippingContinental U.S.
Plotter specialistsAEC experts, not just sellers
Analyst take
- A 60-inch, roll-fed six-color pigment plotter from an earlier AEC production generation, now legacy.
- The UV pigment configuration prioritizes light-fastness, keeping presentation boards and archived plats from fading.
- Uses HP 83 inks and printheads; a dye version is reachable via the HP Dye Upgrade Kits with Ink/60 running HP 81 ink.
Not sure if the 5500UV is right for you?
Compare key specs and an AI analyst read-out against similar models.
Overview
Built for the work
HP Designjet 5500UV Printer (60 in)
Expert analysis
What you should know
Key takeaways
- A 60-inch, roll-fed six-color pigment plotter from an earlier AEC production generation, now legacy.
- The UV pigment configuration prioritizes light-fastness, keeping presentation boards and archived plats from fading.
- Uses HP 83 inks and printheads; a dye version is reachable via the HP Dye Upgrade Kits with Ink/60 running HP 81 ink.
- Supports a very broad media range including bond, coated, photo and polyester films.
- Best suited to reprographics rooms and survey/civil teams that plot wide and value color permanence.
- New buyers should weigh current 60-inch pigment systems like the Canon PRO-6100 or Canon PRO-4100S for newer ink and support.
Walk into an older reprographics room and there’s a fair chance a wide, patient machine like the HP DesignJet 5500UV is still standing against the wall, quietly rolling out 60-inch coordination sheets. It belongs to an earlier generation of AEC production — a six-ink, roll-fed workhorse built when a firm’s whole plotting operation might live on one box.
What makes this one worth a careful look isn’t nostalgia. It’s the UV pigment path, which trades a little saturation for prints that hold their color under office lighting far longer than the dye alternative — the difference you notice on a presentation board that has hung in a lobby for two years without the reds quietly going orange.
60 inMedia widthfull E-size-plus and oversize boards
HP 83Pigment inkUV pigment set for light-fastness
HP 81Dye alternativevia HP Dye Upgrade Kits with Ink/60
HP 83Printhead systemuser-replaceable, six-color
What it actually is
The 5500UV is a 60-inch-wide, roll-fed thermal inkjet plotter using a six-color pigment set — the HP 83 inks paired with the HP 83 printhead family. HP offered it in two chemistries: the UV pigment configuration reviewed here, and a dye version reachable through the HP Dye Upgrade Kits with Ink/60 running HP 81 ink. Pigment is the reason most AEC shops chose this line. On the media we’d put in front of it, pigment ink resists fading and handles the occasional humid loading dock far better than dye, which matters when a survey plat or an as-built has to stay legible in a project binder for years.
It runs an enormous roster of media — bond, coated, heavyweight coated, gloss and satin photo stocks, and polyester films such as HP White Matte Polyester Film. That breadth is genuinely useful in a mixed shop that plots permit sets in the morning and a rendered board in the afternoon.
Where it fits — and where it doesn't
This is a large-format, single-device production plotter. It earns its footprint in shops that plot wide and plot a lot, and where color permanence is a real requirement rather than a nice-to-have.
- Reprographics and central print rooms producing bid sets, permit sets and as-builts at 60 inches wide.
- Survey and civil teams whose plats and exhibits need pigment durability in the field and in archives.
- Firms with a deep 5500-family media and consumable stock who want to keep an amortized machine earning its keep.
Where it’s the wrong tool: a small studio that plots a few sheets a week doesn’t need 60 inches or this maintenance overhead — a compact modern MFP such as the HP DesignJet T918 36-in fits that bench far better. And anyone buying new production capacity today should weigh current 60-inch pigment systems like the Canon PRO-6100 60-in or the graphics-oriented Canon iPF9400 60-in, which bring newer inks and faster processing. It’s worth putting them side by side before committing.
The ownership reality
Buying or keeping a legacy 60-inch plotter is a service decision as much as a print-quality one. Printheads and inks in the HP 83 family remain the maintenance backbone, and the wide media catalog is still deep — but availability and local technician coverage will shape your experience more than any spec. Ask hard questions about parts before you commit a project schedule to it. If you’re benchmarking against today’s field, our 60-inch class ranking shows where it sits.
The read
The DesignJet 5500UV is a legacy machine, and it should be judged as one: a broad-media, 60-inch pigment plotter that still does honest work for shops with the consumable stock and service support to keep it fed. Its pigment path is the reason to love it — color that stays put where it counts. But if you’re specifying fresh capacity, a current 60-inch system such as the Canon PRO-4100S 60-in will give you newer ink, faster processing and cleaner support paths. Keep the 5500UV running if it’s already earning; don’t build a new operation around it.
Spec analysis
How the specs grade
Overall performance
—Not enough data for an overall score
Individual dimensions are shown where the specs support them.
- This printer
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Category leaders best color graphics & photo printers, by dimension
Verified specifications
The specs that decide it
| Maximum print width | 60 in |
|---|---|
| Print speed | 100manufacturer-verified |
manufacturer-verified = checked against the manufacturer’s official datasheet, not aggregator data. Everything else is standards-body / catalog data we consider reliable.
Specifications
Full technical detail
Max print width60"
Use caseCAD / Technical
Everything that fits the HP DesignJet 5500UV
The full supplies hub lists every cartridge, printhead, roll and accessory verified against the manufacturer's own documentation for this machine.
9 ink cartridges · 18 printheads · 106 paper & media items · 3 accessories
HP DesignJet 5500UV ink and paper →Supplies
Compatible ink, printheads & media
Genuine consumables that fit the HP DesignJet 5500UV 60-in — only the cartridges, printheads and media compatible with this model.
Ink Cartridges 9
Printheads 18
HP Cartouche d'encre magenta UV 83 (680 ml) print head Thermal inkjet
HP 83 Cyan UV Printhead and Printhead Cleaner
HP 83 Yellow UV Printhead and Printhead Cleaner
HP 83 Light Cyan UV Printhead and Printhead Cleaner
HP Cartouche d'encre cyan UV 83 (680 ml) print head Thermal inkjet
HP Cartouche d'encre cyan clair UV 83 (680 ml) print head Thermal inkjet
HP Cartouche d'encre magenta clair UV 83 (680 ml) print head Thermal inkjet
HP 83 Black UV Printhead and Printhead Cleaner
HP Cartouche d'encre UV noire 83 680 ml print head Thermal inkjet
HP 83 Magenta UV Printhead and Printhead Cleaner
HP 83 Light Magenta UV Printhead and Printhead Cleaner
HP 83 3-pack 680-ml Black UV Cartridges print head Thermal inkjet
HP 83 3-pack 680-ml Cyan UV Cartridges print head Thermal inkjet
HP 83 3-pack 680-ml Magenta UV Cartridges print head Thermal inkjet
HP 83 3-pack 680-ml Yellow UV Cartridges print head Thermal inkjet
HP 83 3-pack 680-ml Light Cyan UV Cartridges print head Thermal inkjet
HP 83 3-pack 680-ml Light Magenta UV Cartridges print head Thermal inkjet
HP Cartouche d'encre jaune UV 83 (680 ml) print head Thermal inkjetPaper & Media 103
HP Q1733A printing paper Matte 1 sheets White
HP C6779A printing film
HP C6780A large format media 30.5 m
HP C6568B large format media 45.7 m
HP Q1408A plotter paper
HP Q1430A photo paper Brown, White
HP White Matte Polyester Film
HP Q1420A photo paper Brown, White
HP Universal Satin White
HP Q1760A large format media 45.7 m Matte
HP C6570C large format media 30.5 m
HP Matte Polypropylene 1372 mm x 22.9 m (54 in x 75 ft)
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 C6777A printing film
HP C7950A large format media 30.5 m Matte
HP Q1904A printing film
HP Matte Polypropylene 1524 mm x 22.9 m (60 in x 75 ft)
HP Q1421A photo paper Brown, White
HP Q1724A large format media 10.7 m Matt
HP Q1416A large format media 30.5 m
HP Q1745A large format media 10 m Matte
HP Q1743A printing paper Matte 1 sheets White
HP C6778A large format media Matte
Representative imageHP Heavyweight Coated Paper, 42 in x 100 ft (C6569C)
HP Q1730A large format media 30.5 m
HP Q1908A printing film
HP Universal Semi-Gloss Photo Paper
HP Adhesive Vinyl 914 mm x 12.2 m (36 in x 40 ft)
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 Two-view UV Cling Film 254 g/m²-36"/914 mm x 22.9 m large format media
HP Two-view UV Cling Film 254 g/m²-42"/1067 mm x 22.9 m large format media
HP Q1902B large format media
HP Q1901B large format media 15.2 m
HP Q1898B large format media
HP Q1899B large format media
HP Universal Coated Paper-1270 mm x 45.7 m (50 in x 150 ft)
HP Universal Heavyweight Coated Paper 120 g/m²-50"/1270 mm x 30.5 m large format media Matte
HP Universal High-gloss Photo Paper-1270 mm x 30.5 m (50 in x 100 ft)
HP Universal Semi-gloss Photo Paper-1270 mm x 30.5 m (50 in x 100 ft)
HP Q6579A photo paper Brown, White
HP Q6580A photo paper Matte
HP Q6581A photo paper
HP Q6583A photo paper Brown, White
HP Universal Instant-dry Gloss White
HP Q6578A photo paper Brown, White
HP Q6588A large format media Matte
HP Q6596A large format media Matte
HP Q6621A large format media 15.2 m
HP Durable Display Film
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 Q6586A large format media 30.5 m
HP Coated Paper-1524 mm x 45.7 m (60 in x 150 ft)
HP Coated Paper 90 g/m²-50"/1270 mm x 45.7 m large format media
HP Q7999A photo paper
HP Q8677A printing film
HP Universal Adhesive Vinyl 914 mm x 20 m (36 in x 66 ft)
HP Q8673A large format media 6.1 m
HP Collector Satin Canvas-610 mm x 6.1 m (24 in x 20 ft)
HP Q8713A photo paper Matte
HP Q7990A photo paper Gloss
HP Premium Instant-dry Satin White
HP Q7991A photo paper
HP Aquarella Fine Art Paper-914 mm x 10.7 m (36 in x 35 ft)
HP Aquarella Art Paper-610 mm x 10.7 m (24 in x 35 ft)
HP Hahnemühle Smooth Fine Art Paper 265 g/m²-1067 mm x 10.7 m (42 in x 35 ft)
HP Hahnemühle Textured Fine Art Paper 265 g/m²-1067 mm x 10.7 m (42 in x 35 ft)
HP Q8749A printing film
HP Q8750A printing film
HP Q8748A printing film
HP Q8834A printing film
HP Q8835A printing film
HP Q8916A photo paper
HP Q8917A photo paper
HP Q8918A photo paper
HP Q8919A photo paper
HP Q8920A photo paper
HP Q8921A photo paper
HP Q8922A photo paper
HP Q8923A photo paper
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 Vivid White Glossy Polyester Film
HP Vivid White Glossy Polyester Film
HP CG498A printing film
HP CG822A large format media 22.9 m
HP CG884A large format media 45.7 m Matte
HP CG823A large format media 22.9 m
HP CG885A large format media 45.7 m Matte
HP Durable Banner w/ DuPont Tyvek 914 mm x 22.9 m (36 in x 75 ft) large format media Matte
HP Cockle-free Coated Paper-610 mm x 45.7 m (24 in x 150 ft)
HP CG892A large format media
HP CG889A large format media 45.7 m
HP CG890A plotter paper
HP CG891A large format media 45 m
HP Q6620B printing film
HP C2T50A printing film
Questions
Straight answers
Is the HP DesignJet 5500UV still current?
No — it is a legacy 60-inch DesignJet. It remains common in the installed base of reprographics and survey shops, but new buyers should compare it against current 60-inch systems.
What is the difference between the UV and dye versions?
The UV configuration uses pigment inks for greater fade resistance, while the dye path (via the HP Dye Upgrade Kits with Ink/60 and HP 81 ink) offers different color characteristics. For AEC durability — plats, as-builts, lobby boards — the pigment UV version is generally the better fit.
Which inks and printheads does it use?
It uses the HP 83 ink and HP 83 printhead family in the pigment configuration. The dye alternative runs HP 81 ink through the appropriate upgrade kit.
Can it handle presentation boards and photo media, not just line drawings?
Yes. It supports a broad range including gloss and satin photo papers and polyester films such as HP White Matte Polyester Film, alongside bond and coated engineering stocks.
Should I replace it or keep running it?
If it’s already amortized and you have consumable stock plus reliable local service, keeping it earning makes sense. If you need new capacity, look at current 60-inch pigment machines like the Canon PRO-6100 60-in or Canon iPF9400 60-in.
Is there a smaller option for a low-volume studio?
Yes. A small firm that plots a handful of sheets a week is better served by a compact 36-inch device such as the HP DesignJet T918 36-in than by a 60-inch production plotter.
Ready to put the HP DesignJet 5500UV to work?
Configuration, media and a quote tailored to your workflow — from AEC plotter specialists.