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HP DesignJet 5500UVPS
42" wide-format inkjet printer
- Model5500UVPS
- Prints42" wide
Authorized HP dealerGenuine hardware & ink
Manufacturer warrantyExtension plans available
Free shippingContinental U.S.
Plotter specialistsAEC experts, not just sellers
Analyst take
- A 42-inch dye-and-pigment plotter aimed at color presentation and coordination output.
- Running HP 83 UV pigment inks gives fade-resistant color suited to indoor display.
- Deep media support covers bond, vellum, satin photo and polyester film.
Not sure if the 5500UVPS is right for you?
Compare key specs and an AI analyst read-out against similar models.
Overview
Built for the work
HP Designjet 5500UVPS Printer (42 in)
Expert analysis
What you should know
Key takeaways
- A 42-inch dye-and-pigment plotter aimed at color presentation and coordination output.
- Running HP 83 UV pigment inks gives fade-resistant color suited to indoor display.
- Deep media support covers bond, vellum, satin photo and polyester film.
- It predates integrated scanning, touchscreen job accounting and cloud submission.
- Parts and printhead availability are the main ongoing risk on hardware this old.
- Current 44-inch alternatives include the Canon GP-4000 and GP-4600S.
It’s 4:45 on a Thursday and someone needs a color coordination set that won’t wash out under a UV fluorescent office ceiling six months from now. That’s the job the HP Designjet 5500UVPS was built for. Not the fastest plotter in the room, not the newest — but a wide, 42-inch dye-and-pigment workhorse that firms bought when they cared about output that stayed put.
This is an older machine. If you’re reading this, you probably already own one, inherited one, or you’re deciding whether to keep feeding it. Let’s talk about that honestly.
42 inPrint widthEnough for E-size drawings and oversized presentation boards.
HP 81Ink platformDye-based color; also runs HP 83 UV pigment inks.
HP UV Upgrade Kit with Ink/42UV pigment optionConverts the machine to fade-resistant pigment output.
What it actually does well
The 5500UVPS earns its keep on color that has to survive daylight. Run it on the HP 83 UV pigment inks with the matching HP 83 printheads and you get output built for display — coordination drawings, renderings, marketing boards that sit in a lobby without going pink by spring.
The 42-inch width matters. You can print full E-size sheets and lay two smaller drawings side by side on a wide roll. Media support is deep — everything from ordinary bond through HP Vellum Paper-610 mm x 45.7 m (24 in x 150 ft), satin photo stocks like HP Premium Instant-dry Satin White, and film such as HP White Matte Polyester Film for reproducibles.
- Color presentation work that has to resist fading indoors
- Full E-size plots plus wide mixed-size layouts
- Reproducible film and vellum output for archive sets
- Firms with an existing HP 81 / HP 83 ink supply chain
Where it shows its age
Name the failure mode first: parts and printhead supply for a machine this old get thinner every year. When a printhead dries out mid-run at 4:50 p.m., the question isn’t print quality — it’s whether you can source a HP C5000A or HP C5001A before the deadline. That’s a real risk on legacy hardware.
It also predates the workflow expectations a modern shop takes for granted. No integrated scanner, no touchscreen job accounting, none of the cloud submission niceties. If you need copy-scan-print in one footprint, look at a current MFP-class machine instead.
For a same-width current alternative, the Canon GP-4000 44-in and Canon GP-4600S 44-in cover the modern high-volume monochrome-plus-color lane. If color proofing accuracy is the priority, the Canon iPF8300 44-in sits in that photo-graphic space. Want an all-in-one with scanning? The HP DesignJet T918 36-in is the in-family route, though it’s narrower and also discontinued. You can line it up against the GP-4000 here.
Keep reading
The read
If you already run a 5500UVPS and your parts pipeline holds, it still does honest work — especially UV pigment color that has to survive an office wall. But this is legacy iron. The moment printhead supply gets tight or your workflow demands scanning and network job accounting, the math tips toward a current 44-inch machine like the Canon GP-4000 or GP-4600S. Keep it running while it earns its space. Plan the replacement before it strands you at 4:45.
Spec analysis
How the specs grade
Overall performance
—Not enough data for an overall score
Individual dimensions are shown where the specs support them.
Verified specifications
The specs that decide it
| Maximum print width | 42 in |
|---|
Specifications
Full technical detail
Max print width42"
Use caseCAD / Technical
Everything that fits the HP DesignJet 5500UVPS
The full supplies hub lists every cartridge, printhead, roll and accessory verified against the manufacturer's own documentation for this machine.
10 ink cartridges · 18 printheads · 136 paper & media items · 3 accessories
HP DesignJet 5500UVPS ink and paper →Supplies
Compatible ink, printheads & media
Genuine consumables that fit the HP DesignJet 5500UVPS Printer (42 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 114
HP Sahara Fine Art Paper 140 g/m²-36"/914 mm x 10.7 m large format media
HP Q1733A printing paper Matte 1 sheets White
HP C6568B large format media 45.7 m
HP Q1408A plotter paper
HP Durable Image Gloss UV Paper-914 mm x 22.9 m (36 in x 75 ft)
HP Durable Image Gloss UV Paper-1372 mm x 28 m (54 in x 90 ft)
HP Q1430A photo paper Brown, White
HP White Matte Polyester Film
HP Q1420A photo paper Brown, White
HP Vellum Paper-610 mm x 45.7 m (24 in x 150 ft)
HP fine art paper,vanilla (914 mm roll) large format media
HP C6570C large format media 30.5 m
HP Outdoor Paper 145 g/m²-60"/1524 mm x 30.5 m large format media
HP Matte Polypropylene 1372 mm x 22.9 m (54 in x 75 ft)
HP Aquarella Art Paper 240 g/m²-36"/914 mm x 10.7 m large format media
HP C6567B plotter paper
HP Universal Semi-gloss Photo Paper
HP C3860A printing paper White
HP C6789A large format media 15.2 m
HP C6777A printing film
HP Q1712A large format media 10.6 m
HP Q1718A large format media 10.7 m
HP Durable Image Gloss UV Paper-1524 mm x 28 m (60 in x 90 ft)
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 Outdoor Paper 145 g/m²-54"/1372 mm x 30.5 m large format media
HP Q1745A large format media 10 m Matte
HP C6787A large format media 15.2 m
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 polyester film opaque, white glossy (1372 mm roll)
HP White Matte Polyester Film 165 g/m²-54"/1372 mm x 15 m
HP Q1908A printing film
HP C3861A large format media 45.7 m Matte
HP Adhesive Vinyl 914 mm x 12.2 m (36 in x 40 ft)
HP Productivity Gloss Photo Paper-1067 mm x 30.5 m (42 in x 100 ft)
HP Productivity Gloss Photo Paper-1372 mm x 30.5 m (54 in x 100 ft)
HP Productivity Gloss Photo Paper-1524 mm x 30.5 m (60 in x 100 ft)
HP Productivity Semi-gloss Photo Paper-914 mm x 30.5 m (36 in x 100 ft)
HP Productivity Semi-gloss Photo Paper-1067 mm x 30.5 m (42 in x 100 ft)
HP Productivity Semi-gloss Photo Paper-1372 mm x 30.5 m (54 in x 100 ft)
HP Productivity Semi-gloss Photo Paper-1524 mm x 30.5 m (60 in x 100 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 Q1985A large format media 11.5 m
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 Durable Scrim-1067 mm x 12.2 m (42 in x 40 ft)
HP Durable Scrim 550 g/m²-24"/610 mm x 12.2 m large format media
HP Durable Scrim 550 g/m²-36"/914 mm x 12.2 m large format media
HP Q1902B large format media
HP Q1898B large format media
HP Q1899B large format media
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 Q6578A photo paper Brown, White
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 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
What inks does the 5500UVPS use?
It runs HP 81 dye-based inks and can use HP 83 UV pigment inks with the matching HP 83 printheads. Upgrade kits such as the HP UV Upgrade Kit with Ink/42 convert the machine to the pigment platform.
What's the difference between the dye and UV pigment setup?
Dye inks (HP 81) give vivid color for short-life work; the HP 83 UV pigment inks are built to resist fading, which matters for drawings and boards displayed indoors over time.
How wide can it print?
42 inches, which handles full E-size drawings and lets you lay smaller sheets side by side on a wide roll.
Can it scan or copy?
No. It’s a printer only, with no integrated scanner or copy function. If you need copy-scan-print in one unit, look at an MFP-class machine such as the discontinued HP DesignJet T918 36-in or a current all-in-one.
Should I keep mine or replace it?
If your printhead and parts supply is stable and you mainly need fade-resistant color, it can keep earning its footprint. When supply tightens or you need scanning and network job accounting, a current 44-inch machine like the Canon GP-4000 or GP-4600S is the sensible next step.
What media can it handle for reproducibles?
It supports vellum such as HP Vellum Paper-610 mm x 45.7 m, and film including HP White Matte Polyester Film, alongside bond and coated photo stocks.
Ready to put the HP DesignJet 5500UVPS to work?
Configuration, media and a quote tailored to your workflow — from AEC plotter specialists.