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HP DesignJet T1600dr
36" color graphics & photo printer
- ModelT1600dr
- Prints36" wide
- Score79/100
Authorized HP dealerGenuine hardware & ink
2-year warranty includedExtension plans available
Free shippingContinental U.S.
Plotter specialistsAEC experts, not just sellers
Analyst take
- The printer supports color output and up to 2400 x 1200 DPI for 36-inch technical documents.
- PostScript 3, PDF 1.7, HP-GL/2, HP-RTL and CALS G4 support make it relevant to mixed AEC file environments.
- HP Web Jetadmin and HP Security Manager are listed for managed business deployments.
Not sure if the T1600dr is right for you?
Compare key specs and an AI analyst read-out against similar models.
- Wide-format reach Prints up to 36" wide on rolls and sheets.
- Fine detail 2400 x 1200 DPI maximum resolution for crisp line work.
- Productivity Rated at 19.3 sec/page on A1/D, 180 A1/D prints/hour3.
- Ink platform Cyan, Photo black, Matte black, Magenta, Yellow, Gray.
- Verified specs 3 specs checked against the manufacturer datasheet.
- Analyst score Scores 79/100 in our class-relative rating.
Overview
A dual-roll, PostScript workhorse for AEC teams that plot every day
The HP DesignJet T1600dr PS Managed Printer is a 36-inch, six-ink thermal inkjet built for the daily rhythm of a busy technical office: bid sets in the morning, a color coordination plan before lunch, a run of check-plots by close. The color you notice most is in the last stretch of a saturated red or the cyan edge of a utility overlay — and here the six-ink set, including a dedicated Gray, keeps line work crisp and neutrals believable. HP publishes 2400 x 1200 dpi; we’d frame color claims against the media you actually run, since bond and coated papers behave differently.
Two features define this SKU. The dr is dual-roll: load bond and coated together, or two of the same for unattended long runs and fewer roll changes. The PS adds PostScript and native PDF 1.7 handling, which matters when a Bluebeam or InDesign file arrives with transparency and layered color.
- Mixed plan-set output on plain bond with automatic roll switching
- Coordination drawings needing dependable color and fine-line legibility
- Offices standardizing on managed print with HP Web Jetadmin and Security Manager
- PostScript/PDF-heavy submissions from design and layout tools
It is a printer only. If you scan and copy marked-up drawings daily, step up to the HP DesignJet T2600dr 36-in. If a single roll suffices and PostScript isn’t required, the HP DesignJet T1600 36-in covers the same ground more simply.
- 36″Max print width
- 1,211 ft²/hRated speed
- 6Ink channels
- 2,400 dpiMax resolution
- 24 moIncluded warranty
Spec Analysis
overall
overall
At a glance
- Print width
- Up to 36 in (custom sizes to 36" x 48")
- Ink set
- 6 cartridges — Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Gray, Photo black, Matte black (HP 730 inks)
- Rolls
- Dual-roll with automatic switching
- Max resolution
- 2400 x 1200 dpi
- Languages
- PostScript 3, PDF 1.7, HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, TIFF, JPEG, CALS G4
- Software
- HP Click, Web Jetadmin, Security Manager, HP Build Workspace; SmartStream optional
- Footprint / weight
- 54.7" W x 29.9" D x 42.5" H; 187.4 lbs, floor-standing with stand and bin
- Sustainability
- ENERGY STAR certified; 10 W sleep, 0.3 W off
Ideal for: mid-to-high-volume AEC offices running mixed bond and coated media, needing PostScript/PDF fidelity and unattended dual-roll production. Not the tool for: teams that must scan and copy wide-format originals (choose the T2600dr MFP), or low-volume single-roll users who don’t need PostScript.
Expert analysis
What you should know
Key takeaways
- The printer supports color output and up to 2400 x 1200 DPI for 36-inch technical documents.
- PostScript 3, PDF 1.7, HP-GL/2, HP-RTL and CALS G4 support make it relevant to mixed AEC file environments.
- HP Web Jetadmin and HP Security Manager are listed for managed business deployments.
- The listed compatible consumables are HP 728 inks and the HP 729 printhead.
- Teams needing routine scanning and copying should evaluate the HP DesignJet T2600 36-in scanner/MFP.
A permit revision arrives late, and the team needs a 36-inch plan that keeps its fine gray annotations, colored discipline layers and dense title block readable on ordinary bond. The HP DesignJet T1600drPS 36-in is a color wide-format business printer built around that familiar AEC need: direct output from CAD, PDF and technical-document files, with support for HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, PostScript 3, PDF 1.7, TIFF, JPEG and CALS G4.
Its six-color set—cyan, photo black, matte black, magenta, yellow and gray—gives technical drawings a more deliberate tonal structure than a simple CMYK description suggests. At up to 2400 x 1200 DPI, the specification supports detailed linework and color coordination drawings, although resolution alone cannot predict how every PDF, paper stock or driver setting will render. This is a machine to assess in the files your teams actually issue.
36" x 48" (914 x 1219 mm)Maximum print width
2400 x 1200 DPIMaximum resolution
54.7" (1390 mm)Printer footprint
5 – 35 °COperating environment
Where it fits in an AEC document workflow
The file-language support is the practical story here. PostScript 3 and PDF 1.7 matter to teams issuing consultant PDFs; HP-GL/2 and HP-RTL remain relevant where CAD plotting is still central; CALS G4 can be useful in technical and infrastructure document environments. Direct printing, Wi-Fi Direct and HP ePrint provide several submission paths, while HP Click App, HP App and the HP Click Driver for Windows 11 are included in the listed software set.
For print-room and IT teams, HP Web Jetadmin and HP Security Manager are also listed. That does not eliminate the need to validate authentication policy, driver deployment and job-accounting requirements locally, but it places this printer in a managed business environment rather than a stand-alone plotting corner. Review it alongside the HP DesignJet T1600 36-in if your workflow does not specifically call for the PostScript-oriented configuration described here.
Color, media and day-to-day use
The supported media list spans bond, coated, matte, glossy, semi-glossy, satin, photo and heavy paper. That is useful for the normal split between construction documents and a presentation exhibit, but it is not a substitute for testing the exact bond and coated stocks your office standardizes. The difference often appears in the cyan edge of a utility map or in a pale screened detail behind black linework.
HP specifies six cartridges and identifies ICC profiles as a separate matter from printer resolution: this page has no measured gamut data, so there is no defensible claim here about color-volume coverage. The compatible supplies are HP 728 inks and the HP 729 printhead. HP dynamic security is listed; procurement and IT should confirm that this policy aligns with their approved-supply process.
Estimate plot time from the verified rated-speed data, then allow operational time for file preparation, loading media and collecting completed sets.
One set: – · Weekly plotting time: –
Computed from the manufacturer's rated 1,211 ft²/h. Real-world mixed sets run slower — treat this as a best case for comparing machines, not a promise.
Family context and limitations
This printer is best considered for teams that need a 36-inch color technical printer, direct file support and a managed-software path. Its physical dimensions are 54.7 inches wide, 29.9 inches deep and 42.5 inches high, with a weight of 187.4 pounds; confirm route access and a stable final location before delivery.
It may be less appropriate where scan-to-copy workflows are routine. The HP DesignJet T2600 36-in is cataloged as a scanner/MFP, making it the more relevant in-family evaluation for firms that regularly capture marked-up plans or legacy drawings. Where unattended media handling is the priority, compare the cataloged dual-roll HP DesignJet T1600dr 36-in and use the comparison tool to keep the configuration discussion specific.
Continue the evaluation
HP DesignJet T1600 36-inCompare the standard T1600 configuration.HP DesignJet T2600 36-inConsider the scanner/MFP path for copying and capture work.36-inch technical printer rankingsSee this model’s position within its class.How we evaluate wide-format printersRead the methodology behind the editorial assessments.
The read
The HP DesignJet T1600drPS 36-in is a credible fit for AEC teams whose work centers on 36-inch color plans, technical PDFs and CAD-derived files, and whose IT staff value the included HP management tools. Its strongest case is a disciplined office or print-room workflow, not a vague promise that one printer suits every document task. Validate your recurring bond stock, representative PDFs, network controls and service arrangement before committing. If scanning and copying are part of the daily job rather than an exception, move the evaluation toward the MFP alternative instead.
Spec analysis
How the specs grade
Overall performance
within color graphics & photo printers · 12 compared
Class best 82 — Epson SureColor T5770DR
100% spec coverage
- This printer
- Epson SureColor T5770DR
Category leaders best color graphics & photo printers, by dimension
Verified specifications
The specs that decide it
| Maximum print width | 36 in |
|---|---|
| Maximum resolution | Up to 2400 x 1200 optimized dpimanufacturer-verified |
| Print speed | 19.3 sec/page on A1/D, 180 A1/D prints/hour3manufacturer-verified |
| Printing colors | Cyan, Photo black, Matte black, Magenta, Yellow, Gray |
| Number of print cartridges | 6manufacturer-verified |
| Page description languages | PostScript 3, PDF 1.7, HP-GL/2, TIFF, JPEG, HP-RTL, CALS G4 |
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 resolution2400 x 1200 DPI
ColorColor
Use caseCAD / Technical
Printing
| 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 |
Performance
| 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) |
Paper handling
| 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 |
Ports & interfaces
| Wi-Fi Direct | Yes |
|---|---|
| Direct printing | Yes |
| Mobile printing technologies | HP ePrint |
Technical details
| Box contents | HP DesignJet T1600 Printer, printer stand and media bin, spindle(s)[6], printheads, introductory ink cartridges, user guide, power cords |
|---|
Weight & dimensions
| Depth | 29.9" (760 mm) |
|---|---|
| Width | 54.7" (1390 mm) |
| Height | 42.5" (1080 mm) |
| Weight | 187.4 lbs (85 kg) |
Power
| AC input frequency | 50/60 Hz |
|---|---|
| Power consumption (off) | 0.3 W |
| Power consumption (sleep) | 10 W |
Operational conditions
| Storage temperature (T-T) | -25 – 55 °C |
|---|---|
| Operating temperature (T-T) | 5 – 35 °C |
| Operating relative humidity (H-H) | 20 – 80% |
Other features
| 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) |
Packaging data
| Package depth | 30.2" (767 mm) |
|---|---|
| Package width | 58.1" (1477 mm) |
| Package height | 31.5" (800 mm) |
| Package weight | 257.9 lbs (117 kg) |
| Bundled software | HP Click App, HP App, HP Web Jetadmin, HP Security Manager, HP Click Driver for Windows 11, HP Build Workspace, HP SmartStream (optional) |
Sustainability
| Sustainability certificates | ENERGY STAR |
|---|
Brand-specific features
| HP dynamic security | Yes |
|---|
Everything that fits the HP DesignJet T1600dr
The full supplies hub lists every cartridge, printhead, roll and accessory verified against the manufacturer's own documentation for this machine.
12 ink cartridges · 19 paper & media items · 3 accessories · 12 coverage plans
HP DesignJet T1600dr ink and paper →Supplies
Compatible ink, printheads & media
Genuine consumables that fit the HP DesignJet T1600dr PS Managed Printer (36-in) — only the cartridges, printheads and media compatible with this model.
Ink Cartridges 12
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 CartridgePaper & Media 12
Representative image11 Mil Water-Resistant Synthetic BannerRepresentative image180gsm Solvent Satin PE PaperRepresentative image230gsm Special Matte Photo PaperRepresentative image200gsm Special Matte Photo PaperRepresentative image10 Mil Water-resistant Blockout Display FilmRepresentative image5 Mil Water-Resistant Self-Adh Vinyl (3" AC)Representative image6 Mil Water-Resistant Self-Adhesive PolypropyleneRepresentative image24LB Inkjet Coated Matte Paper Economy (714)Representative image8mil Poster Paper Satin (514)Representative image20LB Engineering Vellum (471)Representative imageWSL 28LB Simple Inkjet Coated Matte Paper (C2S) (448)Representative imageWSL 24LB Simple Inkjet Coated Matte Paper (C2S) (446)Questions
Straight answers
What does the 'dr' actually give me over the standard T1600?
Dual-roll capacity. You can keep plain bond on one roll for check-plots and coated or heavy paper on the other for presentation output, and the printer switches between them automatically. It also lets you load two of the same roll for long, unattended runs with fewer stops. The single-roll HP DesignJet T1600 36-in shares the engine but lacks this.
Why does the PS (PostScript) version matter for my files?
The PS designation adds PostScript 3 and native PDF 1.7 processing. That helps when files carry transparency, layered color or complex vector art from tools like InDesign or Bluebeam. If your work is straight HP-GL/2 CAD plotting, PostScript is less critical.
Can this machine scan or copy my marked-up drawings?
No. The T1600dr PS is a printer only. For daily wide-format scanning and copying of hand-marked originals, step up to the HP DesignJet T2600dr 36-in, which pairs the same print engine with an integrated scanner.
Which inks and media does it use?
It uses HP 730 inks across its six cartridges. On the media side, it’s compatible with a broad Dietzgen range for AEC work — from Dietzgen 20LB Inkjet Bond Paper (730) and Dietzgen 24LB Inkjet Bond Paper (731) for everyday plots to Dietzgen 46LB Inkjet Coated Matte Paper (747) for presentation output, plus Dietzgen 20LB Engineering Vellum (471).
How does the color hold up on ordinary bond versus coated stock?
The six-ink set with a dedicated Gray gives clean neutrals and legible fine lines, and reproduces saturated color credibly on coated media where photographs and renderings live. On plain bond the palette is naturally more restrained — worth testing on your own stock, since we’d frame any color claim against the specific media you run rather than a universal number.
Is this a good fit for a managed print environment?
Yes — it’s sold as a Managed SKU and ships with HP Web Jetadmin for fleet control and HP Security Manager for policy enforcement, with HP Dynamic Security in the ink system. IT teams get authentication and job oversight; note that service and consumable supply typically run through an authorized partner contract, so confirm local coverage.
Ready to put the HP DesignJet T1600dr to work?
Configuration, media and a quote tailored to your workflow — from AEC plotter specialists.