Home / Wide-Format Printers / HP DesignJet
HP · Wide-Format Plotter
color graphics & photo printer
Analyst take
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Overview
The HP DesignJet T1600 PS Managed Printer is a 36-inch thermal inkjet plotter aimed at architecture and engineering teams that push steady volumes of drawings through a shared print room. The “Managed” designation points to its role in contractual service agreements, where ink and support are billed as a program rather than bought at retail. It runs six HP 730 inks — Cyan, Photo black, Matte black, Magenta, Yellow and Gray — at up to 2400 x 1200 dpi, and the dedicated gray plus twin blacks matter where it counts: the neutral washes of a site plan and the deep dusk of a rendered elevation both hold their tone instead of drifting warm.
The PS engine earns its keep when you regularly render color-managed sheets; if you only plot line work, the standard HP DesignJet T1600 36-in is the leaner choice. Heavy unattended runs argue for the dual-roll HP DesignJet T1600dr 36-in, and shops needing 44-inch width should look to the HP DesignJet T1700 44-in.
At a glance
Ideal for: managed AEC print rooms running color-managed PostScript/PDF plan sets with job accounting and security controls. Not the tool for: pure line-work shops (standard T1600 36-in), heavy unattended runs (T1600dr 36-in) or teams needing 44-inch width (T1700 44-in).
Spec analysis
Overall performance
within color graphics & photo printers
100% spec coverage
Verified specifications
| Maximum resolution | 2400 x 1200 DPI |
|---|---|
| Printing colors | Cyan, Photo black, Matte black, Magenta, Yellow, Gray |
| Number of print cartridges | 6 |
| Page description languages | PostScript 3, PDF 1.7, HP-GL/2, TIFF, JPEG, HP-RTL, CALS G4 |
Specifications
| Color | Yes |
|---|---|
| Printing colors | Cyan, Photo black, Matte black, Magenta, Yellow, Gray |
| Resolution color | 2400 x 1200 DPI |
| Maximum resolution | 2400 x 1200 DPI |
| Number of print cartridges | 6 |
| Page description languages | PostScript 3, PDF 1.7, HP-GL/2, TIFF, JPEG, HP-RTL, CALS G4 |
| HP segment | Business |
|---|---|
| Certification | Compliant with Class A requirements, including: USA (FCC rules), Canada (ICES), EU (EMC Directive), Australia (ACMA), New Zealand (RSM), China (CCC), Japan (VCCI), Korea (KCC) |
| Custom media sizes | 210 x 279 to 914 x 1219 mm |
|---|---|
| Paper tray media types | Coated paper, Semi-glossy paper, Glossy paper, Bond paper, Photo paper, Matte paper, Heavy paper, Satin paper |
| ISO A-series sizes (A0…A9) | A0, A1, A2, A3, A4 |
| Wi-Fi Direct | Yes |
|---|---|
| Direct printing | Yes |
| Mobile printing technologies | HP ePrint |
| Box contents | HP DesignJet T1600 Printer, printer stand and media bin, spindle(s)[6], printheads, introductory ink cartridges, user guide, power cords |
|---|
| Depth | 29.9" (760 mm) |
|---|---|
| Width | 54.7" (1390 mm) |
| Height | 42.5" (1080 mm) |
| Weight | 180.8 lbs (82 kg) |
| AC input frequency | 50/60 Hz |
|---|---|
| Power consumption (off) | 0.3 W |
| Power consumption (sleep) | 10 W |
| Storage temperature (T-T) | -25 – 55 °C |
|---|---|
| Operating temperature (T-T) | 5 – 35 °C |
| Operating relative humidity (H-H) | 20 – 80% |
| UNSPSC-code | 43212104 |
|---|---|
| Electromagnetic compatibility | Compliant with Class A requirements, including: USA (FCC rules), Canada (ICES), EU (EMC Directive), Australia (ACMA), New Zealand (RSM), China (CCC), Japan (VCCI), Korea (KCC) |
| Package depth | 30.2" (767 mm) |
|---|---|
| Package width | 58.1" (1477 mm) |
| Package height | 31.5" (800 mm) |
| Package weight | 249.1 lbs (113 kg) |
| Bundled software | HP Click App, HP App, HP Web Jetadmin, HP Security Manager, HP SmartTracker (optional), HP Click Driver for Windows 11, HP Build Workspace, HP SmartStream (optional) |
| Sustainability certificates | ENERGY STAR |
|---|
| HP dynamic security | Yes |
|---|
Everything that fits the HP DesignJet T1600
The full supplies hub lists every cartridge, printhead, roll and accessory verified against the manufacturer's own documentation for this machine.
12 ink cartridges · 18 paper & media items · 3 accessories · 12 coverage plans
HP DesignJet T1600 ink and paper →Supplies
Genuine consumables that fit the HP DesignJet T1600 PS Managed Printer, 36-in — only the cartridges, printheads and media compatible with this model.
HP 730 130-ml Cyan Ink Cartridge
HP 730 130-ml Magenta Ink Cartridge
HP 730 130-ml Yellow Ink Cartridge
HP 730 130-ml Matte Black Ink Cartridge
HP 730 130-ml Gray Ink Cartridge
HP 730 130-ml Photo Black Ink Cartridge
HP 730 300-ml Cyan Ink Cartridge
HP 730 300-ml Magenta Ink Cartridge
HP 730 300-ml Yellow Ink Cartridge
HP 730 300-ml Matte Black Ink Cartridge
HP 730 300-ml Gray Ink Cartridge
HP 730 300-ml Photo Black Ink Cartridge
Representative image16 Mil WR Opaque Scrim Vinyl (3″ AC)Representative image15 Mil Water-Resistant Econo Scrim VinylRepresentative image11 Mil Water-Resistant Synthetic BannerRepresentative image350g Vivid Matte Poly/Cotton CanvasRepresentative image380g Premium Matte Poly/Cotton CanvasRepresentative image5 Mil Water-Resistant Self-Adh Vinyl (3" AC)Representative image6 Mil Water-Resistant Self-Adhesive PolypropyleneRepresentative image28LB Inkjet Coated Matte Paper (748)Representative image6.5mil Matte Coated Paper w/ PSA (746PSA)Representative image24LB Inkjet Bond Paper (731)Representative image24LB Inkjet Coated Matte Paper Economy (714)Representative imageWSL 24LB Simple Inkjet Coated Matte Paper (C2S) (446)
HP 1 year Post Warranty NBD Onsite HW Support w/Defective Media Retention for T1600 1 roll
Hp 3 Year Next Business Day Onsite Hw Support W/Defective Media Retention For De (UB8P0E)Hp 3 Year Next Business Day Onsite Hardware Support W/Dmr For T1600 1 (UC6M2E)Hp 3 Year Next Business Day Onsite Hardware Support W/Dmr For T1600 2 (UC6N0E)
HP 4 year Next Business Day Onsite HW Support w/Defective Media Retention for T1600 1 rollHp 4 Year Next Business Day Onsite Hardware Support W/Dmr For T1600 1 (UC6M3E)Hp 4 Year Next Business Day Onsite Hardware Support W/Dmr For T1600 2 (UC6N1E)
Hp 5 Year Next Business Day Onsite Hw Support W/Defective Media Retention For De (UB8P2E)Hp 5 Year Next Business Day Onsite Hardware Support W/Dmr For T1600 1 (UC6M4E)Hp 5 Year Next Business Day Onsite Hardware Support W/Dmr For T1600 2 (UC6N2E)
HP Preventive Maintenance Hardware Support (U1XV4E)
HP Network Installation Service for High-end and MidrangeQuestions
“PS” indicates the built-in PostScript 3 and PDF 1.7 interpreter, useful for color-managed and graphics-heavy files. “Managed” is the SKU built for contractual service programs (MPS), where ink and support are bundled rather than purchased at retail. The core hardware matches the commercial units.
Not much. If you only plot black line work from AutoCAD or Revit, the HP-GL/2 path on the standard HP DesignJet T1600 36-in handles that fine. PostScript earns its place when you regularly render color-managed PDFs, presentation sheets or GIS maps where color accuracy is the point.
The six-ink set — including a dedicated Gray plus both Matte and Photo black — supports neutral grays and controlled color at up to 2400 x 1200 dpi. That helps color-coded coordination drawings and shaded renderings stay legible. We haven’t measured this specific unit’s ICC gamut, so treat resolution as a capability figure, not a color-accuracy guarantee.
AEC users have reported that printing directly from CAD can occasionally ignore landscape settings and trigger “no matching media” errors or wasted paper. The common workaround is batch submission through the bundled HP Click app rather than the Windows driver, which HP describes as simpler for PDF handling.
If your print room runs long, mixed-size sets and needs unattended roll switching between, say, bond and coated stock, the HP DesignJet T1600dr 36-in adds a second roll. The single-roll PS Managed unit is better suited to environments where an operator can change media between jobs.
It uses the HP 730 ink family. Note the printer enforces HP Dynamic Security, so plan on genuine HP supplies. HP offers several service and support-pack options (the hp UC6M2E, UC6M3E, UC6M4E, UC6N0E, UC6N1E and UC6N2E packs) that align well with the managed-fleet model.
Configuration, media and a quote tailored to your workflow — from AEC plotter specialists.
