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HP DesignJet T1600PS
36" color graphics & photo printer
- ModelT1600PS
- Prints36" wide
- Score56/100
Authorized HP dealerGenuine hardware & ink
Manufacturer warrantyExtendable to 5 years
Free shippingContinental U.S.
Plotter specialistsAEC experts, not just sellers
Analyst take
- The T1600PS is a 36-inch color wide-format printer for AEC drawings, PDFs, technical images, and color communication documents.
- It supports PostScript 3, PDF 1.7, HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, TIFF, JPEG, and CALS G4 file languages.
- The six-color system includes photo black, matte black, and gray, alongside cyan, magenta, and yellow.
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- Wide-format reach Prints up to 36" wide on rolls and sheets.
- Fine detail 2400 x 1200 DPI maximum resolution for crisp line work.
- Ink platform Cyan, Photo black, Matte black, Magenta, Yellow, Gray.
- Verified specs 9 specs checked against the manufacturer datasheet.
- Analyst score Scores 56/100 in our class-relative rating.
Overview
A six-ink 36-inch plotter built for plan sets that also carry color
The HP DesignJet T1600PS is a 36-inch thermal inkjet plotter aimed at the daily rhythm of AEC document production — bid sets, permit sets, redlines and as-builts — where line quality and predictable output matter more than gallery-grade photography. It runs a six-ink system (cyan, magenta, yellow, gray, plus both photo and matte black) at up to 2400 x 1200 dpi. The two-black arrangement is the practical part: dense, neutral line work on plain bond, and a gray ink that keeps grayscale renderings from drifting warm where subtle tonal steps live. The eye reads it as clean, cool, and legible at small text sizes.
The PS designation is the reason many firms choose it. A genuine PostScript 3 and PDF 1.7 interpreter handles color-managed PDFs and presentation output without a separate RIP, so a color-coded MEP coordination drawing lands the same way it looked in Bluebeam. HP Click, Web Jetadmin and Security Manager cover job submission, fleet management and IT hardening.
- Mixed monochrome-and-color plan sets from a single roll
- Color-managed PDFs via native PostScript 3
- Departments needing job accounting and secure submission
- Print rooms standardizing on HP Web Jetadmin
Where it’s the wrong tool: single-roll operation means frequent media swaps for firms juggling bond and coated stock all day — the dual-roll HP DesignJet T1600dr 36-in earns its keep there. Teams printing 44-inch sheets should look at the HP DesignJet T1700 44-in instead.
- 36″Max print width
- 6Ink channels
- 2,400 dpiMax resolution
Spec Analysis
overall
overall
At a glance
- Print width
- 36 in (roll to 36" x 48" custom)
- Technology
- HP thermal inkjet, color
- Ink set
- 6 inks: C, M, Y, gray, photo black, matte black
- Max resolution
- 2400 x 1200 dpi
- Page description languages
- PostScript 3, PDF 1.7, HP-GL/2, TIFF, JPEG, HP-RTL, CALS G4
- Media handling
- Single roll with stand and media bin; six spindles included
- Footprint / weight
- 54.7" W x 29.9" D x 42.5" H; 180.8 lbs
- Fleet & security software
- HP Web Jetadmin, HP Security Manager, HP Click; ENERGY STAR
Ideal for: mid-sized multidisciplinary practices and print rooms producing mixed mono/color plan sets that need native PostScript, job accounting and IT-grade security from one 36-inch device. Not the tool for: all-day dual-media operations (see the T1600dr) or teams that regularly output 44-inch sheets (see the T1700 44-in).
Expert analysis
What you should know
Key takeaways
- The T1600PS is a 36-inch color wide-format printer for AEC drawings, PDFs, technical images, and color communication documents.
- It supports PostScript 3, PDF 1.7, HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, TIFF, JPEG, and CALS G4 file languages.
- The six-color system includes photo black, matte black, and gray, alongside cyan, magenta, and yellow.
- HP Click App, HP Click Driver for Windows 11, HP Web Jetadmin, HP Security Manager, and HP Build Workspace are bundled.
- The HP DesignJet T1600dr 36-in is the listed dual-roll alternative, while the HP DesignJet T1700 44-in addresses wider-format needs.
A coordination drawing is rarely judged by its headline resolution. It is judged when a superintendent can separate a gray structural note from a black dimension string, or when a redlined PDF arrives minutes before a meeting. The HP DesignJet T1600PS – 36IN is a color, 36-inch business-class wide-format printer aimed at that daily AEC mix: plan sheets, marked-up PDFs, GIS exhibits, presentation graphics, and technical documents submitted in familiar CAD and PDF formats.
Its value is less about a single spectacular application than about broad file-language support and practical office connectivity. It accepts PostScript 3, PDF 1.7, HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, TIFF, JPEG, and CALS G4, with direct printing and Wi-Fi Direct available for teams that need more than one route to the device.
2400 x 1200 DPIMaximum resolutionFor color and monochrome output.
36" x 48"Maximum custom sheet sizeSupports common full-size AEC sheet output.
29.9"Printer depthAllow additional working clearance for loading media and collecting output.
6Installed ink systemCyan, photo black, matte black, magenta, yellow, and gray.
Where it fits in an AEC document workflow
This model is particularly well suited to architecture, engineering, surveying, and construction teams that need both monochrome drawing sets and color communication documents from one device. The six-color configuration includes both photo black and matte black, plus gray; that is a relevant combination for drawings that move between plain bond and more presentation-oriented media. Supported media types include bond, coated, matte, glossy, semi-glossy, satin, photo, and heavy paper.
For submission workflows, the supplied HP Click App and HP Click Driver for Windows 11 are useful starting points, while HP Web Jetadmin and HP Security Manager put the device in a more manageable conversation with IT. HP Build Workspace is also bundled. The practical question is whether those tools align with the firm’s PDF review, CAD plotting, and security policies—not simply whether a feature appears on a specification sheet.
For a direct family comparison, see the T1600PS and HP DesignJet T1600dr 36-in comparison.
Media, files, and the operator’s day
The T1600PS handles custom media from 210 x 279 mm through 36 x 48 inches, covering small technical documents through full-size sheets. Its supplied stand and media bin matter in a shared area: output needs somewhere orderly to land when the next person is waiting with a permit set. The printer measures 54.7 inches wide, 29.9 inches deep, and 42.5 inches high, and weighs 180.8 lbs, so site selection should account for access, service clearance, media storage, and the path from workstation to printer.
HP 730 inks and the HP 731 printhead are the resolved consumable families for this model. Dynamic security is supported. For organizations with controlled purchasing and fleet policies, confirm that consumable sourcing and authentication requirements fit the established print-management process.
Choosing the nearby DesignJet option
The HP DesignJet T1600 36-in is the closest same-width alternative listed here, with the same stated 2400 x 1200 DPI resolution. The more consequential step-up for teams that repeatedly switch media is the HP DesignJet T1600dr 36-in, identified in the catalog as dual-roll. For organizations that genuinely need wider sheets, the HP DesignJet T1700 44-in moves to a 44-inch format.
This T1600PS is less appropriate when a firm’s requirements center on wider-than-36-inch output or where dual-roll handling is central to the day’s production rhythm. It is also not a scanner-equipped multifunction device in the supplied specification, so firms with routine oversized copying, archival scanning, or redline capture should treat that requirement separately rather than assume it is included.
Review its placement in the 36-inch wide-format class ranking alongside the workflow details that matter locally.
Related tools and comparisons
HP DesignJet T1600dr 36-inThe listed dual-roll alternative for teams that change media often.HP DesignJet T1600 36-inThe nearest same-width model in the family.HP DesignJet T1700 44-inA listed in-family option for wider-format requirements.36-inch wide-format class rankingCompare this machine’s position within its class.
The read
The HP DesignJet T1600PS – 36IN makes sense for a shared AEC environment that needs 36-inch color and technical-document output, broad file support, direct-printing options, and tools that can be administered alongside the wider fleet. Its strongest fit is a team whose work arrives as CAD-derived files, PDFs, and image formats and whose output ranges from bond-paper drawings to color-coded coordination material. The trade-off is straightforward: choose the dual-roll T1600dr when media switching drives the workflow, and move to the T1700 44-in when sheet width—not merely resolution—is the limiting factor.
Spec analysis
How the specs grade
Overall performance
within color graphics & photo printers · 12 compared
Class best 82 — Epson SureColor T5770DR
58% spec coverage
- This printer
- Epson SureColor T5770DR
Category leaders best color graphics & photo printers, by dimension
Verified specifications
The specs that decide it
| Maximum roll width | 36 in (914 mm)manufacturer-verified |
|---|---|
| Minimum roll width | 11 in (279 mm)manufacturer-verified |
| Print speed (HP-rated) | 180 A1/hrmanufacturer-verified |
| Maximum resolution | 2400 x 1200 dpi |
| Internal memory | 128 GBmanufacturer-verified |
| Internal storage | 500 GBmanufacturer-verified |
| Ink cartridges | 6 (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Gray, Photo black, Matte black)manufacturer-verified |
| Networking | Gigabit Ethernet + Wi-Fi + Wi-Fi Directmanufacturer-verified |
| Page description languages | PostScript 3, PDF 1.7, HP-GL/2, TIFF, JPEG, HP-RTL, CALS G4 |
| Warranty | 90 day limited hardware warrantymanufacturer-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 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 | 180.8 lbs (82 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 | 249.1 lbs (113 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 T1600PS
The full supplies hub lists every cartridge, printhead, roll and accessory verified against the manufacturer's own documentation for this machine.
1 printhead · 12 paper & media items · 6 coverage plans
HP DesignJet T1600PS ink and paper →Supplies
Compatible ink, printheads & media
Genuine consumables that fit the HP DesignJet T1600PS 36-in Plotter — only the cartridges, printheads and media compatible with this model.
Printheads 1
Paper & Media 12
Representative image11 Mil Water-Resistant Synthetic BannerRepresentative image15 Mil Water-Resistant Econo Scrim VinylRepresentative image16 Mil WR Opaque Scrim Vinyl (3″ AC)Representative image200gsm Special Matte Photo PaperRepresentative image230gsm Special Matte Photo PaperRepresentative image350g Vivid Matte Poly/Cotton CanvasRepresentative imageWSL 28LB Simple Inkjet Coated Matte Paper (C2S) (448)Representative 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 image24LB Inkjet Bond Paper (731)Representative image6.5mil Matte Coated Paper w/ PSA (746PSA)Coverage & Support Plans 6
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 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 Hardware Support W/Dmr For T1600 1 (UC6M4E)Hp 5 Year Next Business Day Onsite Hardware Support W/Dmr For T1600 2 (UC6N2E)Questions
Straight answers
What AEC files can the HP DesignJet T1600PS – 36IN accept?
Its listed page-description languages are PostScript 3, PDF 1.7, HP-GL/2, TIFF, JPEG, HP-RTL, and CALS G4. That covers many common CAD-derived, PDF, raster-image, and technical-document workflows.
Can this printer handle full-size construction and engineering sheets?
Yes. The listed custom media range reaches 36 x 48 inches, which accommodates common full-size AEC sheets. Confirm the exact media and output requirements of your drawing standards before deployment.
Does the T1600PS have dual-roll capability?
The supplied product data does not identify this model as dual-roll. The HP DesignJet T1600dr 36-in is the listed in-family model specifically identified as dual-roll.
What inks and printhead does this model use?
The resolved consumables are HP 730 inks and the HP 731 printhead. The printer uses six ink colors: cyan, photo black, matte black, magenta, yellow, and gray.
Is it suitable for an IT-managed office environment?
It includes HP Web Jetadmin and HP Security Manager in the bundled software list, and it supports HP dynamic security. It also offers direct printing, Wi-Fi Direct, and HP ePrint, which should be evaluated against the organization’s network and authentication policies.
Does this model include wide-format scanning and copying?
No scanner or multifunction capability is stated in the supplied specification. If oversized copying, scanning, or archival conversion is essential, evaluate that requirement as a separate capability.
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