Home / Wide-Format Printers / HP DesignJet
HP · Wide-Format Plotter
24" color graphics & photo printer
Analyst take
Not sure if the Z6 is right for you?
Compare key specs and an AI analyst read-out against similar models.
Overview
The DesignJet Z6 24-in is a single-roll pigment-ink plotter built for the point where technical accuracy meets presentation color. Where a dye-based technical plotter is happy laying down crisp black lines, the Z6 uses a six-ink set — cyan, magenta, yellow, photo black, matte black, plus a chromatic optimizer — through three printheads to hold color that stays put. That matters where color lives: the last five percent of a saturated red on a rendering, the graded blues of a GIS floodplain map, a site plan taped to a fence for a month. HP rates it at up to 66.9 m²/hr in normal quality and prints at up to 2400 x 1200 dpi.
It is less the right tool for pure high-volume monochrome blueprinting; a dedicated technical plotter runs faster and cheaper per print, and some users note default line color can read light in AutoCAD. If you need dual rolls or 44-inch width for renders, look up the family to the HP DesignJet Z9+ 24-in or the HP DesignJet Z3200ps 44-in.
At a glance
Ideal for: firms producing color renderings, coordination sets, GIS and survey maps that must reproduce accurate, durable color. Not the tool for: high-volume black-and-white bid and permit sets, where a faster, lower-running-cost technical plotter earns its keep.
Features
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Expert analysis
Key takeaways
The first thing you notice on a well-tuned Z6 isn’t a line weight or a plot speed — it’s a saturated site-plan red that still looks like a red at arm’s length, and a photographic aerial that holds its shadow detail instead of collapsing into mud. That’s the argument this 24-inch machine makes: it is a pigment-ink graphics printer that happens to speak fluent CAD, rather than a technical plotter that dabbles in color.
For AEC teams whose deliverables have crept from black-line prints toward rendered elevations, GIS overlays and presentation boards, that distinction matters. The HP DesignJet Z6 24-in PostScript model sits at the point where drawing production and image quality overlap — and understanding that overlap is the whole decision.
This is a single-roll, 24-inch pigment inkjet built on the HP 746 ink family and HP 746 printhead. Six cartridges feed five colors — cyan, magenta, yellow, and both photo black and matte black — which is the real tell: dual blacks exist to serve photographic and matte media, not just to darken text. The PostScript designation matters for print-room life, because PDF 1.7 and PostScript 3 processing on board, alongside HP-GL/2 and 4 GB of memory, means complex rendered PDFs rasterize on the printer rather than choking a workstation.
On the media we’d put it on — plain bond and HP coated stock — the measured color story is the honest reason to buy it. The eye reads it in the last five percent of a deep, saturated blue on a coordination drawing, the place where cheaper dye plotters go flat. See our measured-gamut hub for how we characterize that on identical paper rather than quoting a 2-D marketing percentage.
The Z6 earns its place where color credibility is the deliverable: rendered elevations, GIS and civil overlays, and site plans that need to survive outdoors. HP cites the highest print-permanence ratings in the industry for this class of pigment output — a claim worth attributing, but the underlying pigment chemistry is genuinely why these prints hold up better than dye equivalents.
It is less the right tool for high-volume monochrome bid and permit sets. Independent AEC users note that AutoCAD line colors can print “light” at default settings, and a technical T-series machine is faster and cheaper per black-line plot. If color simply isn’t your product, step down within the family to something like the HP DesignJet Z2100 24-in. If you want a deeper, more consistent color engine in the same 24-inch footprint, the HP DesignJet Z9+ 24-in is the step up — you can line them up side by side before deciding.
Estimate plot times for your own run lengths.
One set: – · Weekly plotting time: –
Computed from the manufacturer's rated 916 ft²/h. Real-world mixed sets run slower — treat this as a best case for comparing machines, not a promise.
One practical note: as of mid-2026 HP has introduced a successor Plus Edition of the Z6, so this model is now transitioning and often sells at clearance. It is not end-of-service — HP typically keeps Z-series parts and ink flowing for several years past catalog retirement, which points to serviceability into roughly the early 2030s. For a buyer chasing a favorable acquisition on proven hardware, that’s an opportunity; for a ten-year fleet-standardization plan, ask your dealer directly about parts and HP 746 ink supply timelines. See how this unit ranks against peers on our 24-inch class board.
The read
Buy the Z6 for what your eye already told you in the first paragraph: pigment color that reproduces a saturated render or a durable site plan with fidelity a technical plotter won’t match. It is a color-first machine that handles CAD competently, not a monochrome production workhorse. If your week is mostly black-line permit sets, look at a lighter-color or technical sibling; if color fidelity and depth are the point and you want more headroom, weigh the Z9+. On the media we measured, the Z6 does the thing it’s built for convincingly — just size the purchase to the transitioning lifecycle and confirm your local service coverage before you sign.
Spec analysis
Overall performance
within color graphics & photo printers · 8 compared
Class best 81 — Epson SureColor T3770DR
100% spec coverage
Category leaders best color graphics & photo printers, by dimension
Measured color
Measured on Hahnemühle Photo Gloss Baryta 320 — the same paper we put every printer on, so the only thing that varies is the printer and its ink. Computed with ArgyllCMS from the paper maker’s ICC profile: real measured color data, not a spec-sheet claim.
These are 3-D color-volume figures measured from the actual profile — a stricter, more honest gauge than the 2-D “% coverage” numbers on marketing spec sheets, which run considerably higher. Use them to compare printers on the same basis.
| Media | Volume (Lab³) | sRGB | Adobe RGB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo Gloss Baryta (common basis) | 703,926 | 59.9% | 50.4% |
| Backlit film | 766,825 | 58.8% | 51% |
| Vinyl | 711,297 | 60.9% | 50% |
| Satin / semi-gloss photo | 707,601 | 60.3% | 49.8% |
| Premium glossy photo | 707,601 | 60.3% | 49.8% |
| Glossy photo | 632,099 | 57.6% | 46.6% |
| Fine-art | 449,685 | 44.2% | 34.2% |
| Matte photo | 449,685 | 44.2% | 34.2% |
| Plain / coated | 449,685 | 44.2% | 34.2% |
| Canvas | 407,370 | 40.8% | 31.1% |
| Other media | 174,386 | 19.4% | 13.3% |
Gamut volume is the size of the reproducible color solid in CIELAB, computed with ArgyllCMS iccgamut. Coverage is the share of the sRGB / Adobe RGB reference volume the printer reproduces (ArgyllCMS viewgam). A larger volume and higher coverage mean more saturated colors reproduced faithfully; wide-format pigment printers typically extend beyond sRGB in cyans and greens while falling short of its deepest blues.
Verified specifications
| Print technology | HP Thermal Inkjet |
|---|---|
| Ink set | 6 colors: cyan, magenta, yellow, matte black, photo black, chromatic red |
| Printheads | 3 universal printheads (valid for all colors) |
| Maximum resolution | 2400 x 1200 optimized dpi |
| Maximum print size | 44 x 66 in |
| HP-rated print speed | 104 / 202 / 866 ft²/hrmanufacturer-verified |
| Page description languages | Adobe PostScript 3, Adobe PDF 1.7, TIFF, JPEG, CALS G4, HP-GL/2, HP-RTL |
| Network / interfaces | Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-T); USB 3.1 gen 1 and rear USB 2.0 |
| Control panel | 15.6-in (396-mm) touchscreen to preview and enhance images |
| Internal storage | 500 GB |
manufacturer-verified = checked against the manufacturer’s official datasheet, not aggregator data. Everything else is standards-body / catalog data we consider reliable.
Specifications
| Color | Yes |
|---|---|
| Print head | 3 |
| Printing colors | Cyan, Photo black, Matte black, Magenta, Yellow |
| Print technology | Inkjet |
| 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 |
| Print speed (normal quality) | 66.9 m²/hr |
| Display | LED |
|---|---|
| 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), South Africa (SABS) |
| Product color | Gray |
| Storage media | HDD |
| Internal memory | 4096 MB |
| Built-in display | Yes |
| Country of origin | China, Thailand |
| Cut sheets | Yes |
|---|---|
| Media thickness | 0.8 mm |
| Custom media sizes | 210 x 279 to 610 x 1676 mm |
| Maximum print size | A1 (594 x 841 mm) |
| Maximum roll width | 24" (61 cm) |
| Media width (sheets) | 610 mm |
| Maximum roll diameter | 5.31" (13.5 cm) |
| Roll widths supported | 279 – 610mm |
| Paper tray media types | Coated paper, Bond paper, Photo paper, Banner |
| ISO A-series sizes (A0…A9) | A1, A2, A3, A4 |
| USB port | Yes |
|---|---|
| Ethernet LAN | Yes |
| Wi-Fi Direct | Yes |
| USB connector | USB Type-A |
| Direct printing | Yes |
| RJ-45 ports quantity | 1 |
| Ethernet LAN data rates | 10,100,1000 Mbit/s |
| Mobile printing technologies | HP ePrint |
| Box contents | HP DesignJet Z6 PostScript Printer, printheads, introductory ink cartridges, printer stand and media bin, spindle, quick reference guide, setup poster, power cord |
|---|
| Depth | 27.4" (695 mm) |
|---|---|
| Width | 50.9" (1293 mm) |
| Height | 39.3" (998 mm) |
| Weight | 145.5 lbs (66 kg) |
| AC input voltage | 100 – 240 V |
|---|---|
| AC input frequency | 50/60 Hz |
| Power consumption (off) | 0.1 W |
| Power consumption (sleep) | 6.5 W |
| Power consumption (typical) | 100 W |
| Storage temperature (T-T) | -25 – 55 °C |
|---|---|
| Operating temperature (T-T) | 5 – 40 °C |
| Operating relative humidity (H-H) | 20 – 80% |
| Safety | EU (LVD and EN 60950-1 compliant); Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan (EAC) |
|---|---|
| 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), South Africa (SABS) |
| Copying | No |
|---|
| Scanning | No |
|---|
| Harmonized System (HS) code | 84433210 |
|---|
| Package depth | 30.2" (766 mm) |
|---|---|
| Package width | 56.7" (1440 mm) |
| Package height | 28.3" (718 mm) |
| Package weight | 213.8 lbs (97 kg) |
| Bundled software | HP Click printing software, HP PrintOS, HP Web Jetadmin, HP DesignJet Utility including HP Color Center, HP Partner Link, HP JetAdvantage Security Manager (optional), HP SmartStream (optional) |
| Drivers included | Yes |
| Quick start guide | Yes |
| Cartridge(s) included | Yes |
| Sustainability compliance | Yes |
|---|---|
| Sustainability certificates | ENERGY STAR |
| Sustainable technologies and materials | 30% post-consumer recycled plastic; Free, convenient HP ink cartridge and printhead recycling with HP Planet Partners; Highest WIR Print Permanence Ratings in the Industry; ENERGY STAR certified; EPEAT registered |
| Total carbon footprint (kg of CO2e) | 820 |
|---|---|
| Carbon emissions, logistics (kg of CO2e) | 52 |
| Carbon emissions, end-of-life (kg of CO2e) | 1 |
| Carbon emissions, manufacturing (kg of CO2e) | 755 |
| Total carbon emissions, w/o use phase (kg of CO2e) | 8 |
| Mac operating systems supported | Yes |
|---|---|
| Windows operating systems supported | Yes |
| HP ePrint | Yes |
|---|---|
| HP Care Pack | Yes |
| HP Web Jetadmin | Yes |
| HP GTIN (EAN/UPC) | 194441079883. 192018667532. 192018667518 |
| HP dynamic security | Yes |
| HP GTIN (EAN/UPC) with options | (ABA) 194441079883; (ABG) 192018667532; (B1K) 192018667518 |
Everything that fits the HP DesignJet Z6
The full supplies hub lists every cartridge, printhead, roll and accessory verified against the manufacturer's own documentation for this machine.
6 ink cartridges · 1 printhead · 15 paper & media items · 5 accessories · 2 coverage plans
HP DesignJet Z6 ink and paper →Supplies
Genuine consumables that fit the HP DesignJet Z6 24-in PostScript Printer — only the cartridges, printheads and media compatible with this model.
Representative image11 Mil Water-Resistant Synthetic BannerRepresentative imageHP 4-mil Double Matte Film, 3-in CoreRepresentative imageMagic 6mil PP Film w/ Low-Tack Adhesive (STICK2)Representative imageMagic 9mil Universal Matte Coated PP Film (PPM7)Representative imageMagic Firenze 170gsm Coated Matte Paper (Firenze170)Representative imageMagic Firenze 132gsm Coated Matte Paper (Firenze132)Representative imageMagic 98gsm/26# Coated Matte Paper (DMPG98)Representative image6.5mil Matte Coated Paper w/ PSA (746PSA)Representative image20LB High Brite Inkjet Bond Paper (740)Representative image20LB Inkjet Bond Paper (730)Representative image24LB Inkjet Coated Matte Paper Economy (714)Representative imageWSL 28LB Simple Inkjet Coated Matte Paper (C2S) (448)Questions
Not primarily. Independent AEC users report AutoCAD line colors can look light at default settings, and a technical T-series plotter is faster and cheaper per monochrome plot. The Z6 makes sense when color renders and durable site plans are the deliverable.
It carries both photo black and matte black. Dual blacks let it hold deep neutral density on photographic media and matte stock alike — a photographic-quality feature rather than a text-darkening one.
No. Scanning and copying are not built in. If you need wide-format capture, HP pairs it with external units such as the HP SD Pro 44-in Scanner or HP HD Pro 42-in Scanner.
It uses the HP 746 pigment ink family across six cartridges and the HP 746 printhead, with three printheads total. Pigment chemistry is the reason its prints resist fading better than dye equivalents.
One roll at a time, from 11 up to 24 inches wide, on a maximum 5.31-inch roll diameter, plus cut sheets. There is no automatic dual-roll switching, so plan media changes into unattended runs.
HP launched a successor Plus Edition in June 2026, so this model is transitioning and often discounted. It is not end-of-service; HP typically supports Z-series parts and ink for several years past retirement, but confirm timelines with your dealer.
Configuration, media and a quote tailored to your workflow — from AEC plotter specialists.
