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HP DesignJet Latex 280
64" latex signage printer
- ModelLatex 280
- Prints64" wide
Authorized HP dealerGenuine hardware & ink
Manufacturer warrantyExtension plans available
Free shippingContinental U.S.
Plotter specialistsAEC experts, not just sellers
Analyst take
- The 104-inch maximum media width makes this machine relevant for full-width AEC graphics, signage, maps, and presentation output.
- It is a print-only roll-fed platform, so scanning and copying workflows require separate equipment.
- HP rates output from 99 ft²/hr (16-pass bidirectional) through 753 ft²/hr (2-pass bidirectional), but roll changes and finishing determine completed jobs per shift.
Not sure if the Latex 280 is right for you?
Compare key specs and an AI analyst read-out against similar models.
Overview
Built for the work
HP Latex 280 104-in Printer ( Designjet L28500 104-in Printer), 775 ml, 6 (2 x yellow/black, 2 x cyan/light cyan, 2 x light magenta/magenta), Banners, vinyls, films, fabrics, papers, mesh (liner used with porous media), 2641 mm, WEEE; EU RoHS; China RoHS; REACH; EuP; FEMP; UL, Input voltage: 3-phase, 200 to 240 VAC (+/- 10%), 40 A or 380 to 415 VAC (-10% +6%), 24 A; 50/60…
Expert analysis
What you should know
Key takeaways
- The 104-inch maximum media width makes this machine relevant for full-width AEC graphics, signage, maps, and presentation output.
- It is a print-only roll-fed platform, so scanning and copying workflows require separate equipment.
- HP rates output from 99 ft²/hr (16-pass bidirectional) through 753 ft²/hr (2-pass bidirectional), but roll changes and finishing determine completed jobs per shift.
- One input roll favors long, organized production runs over frequent switching among media types.
- RIP software is separate and determines operating-system compatibility, making pre-installation workflow testing essential.
- The narrower HP DesignJet T918 36-in adds scanner/MFP capability but is discontinued and addresses a different workflow.
A 104-inch machine changes the conversation from plan sets to full-width site graphics. The HP Latex 280 104-in Printer, also identified as the Designjet L28500 104-in Printer, is a roll-fed print-only platform for AEC teams producing construction signage, project boards, GIS displays, wayfinding, safety graphics, renderings, and large presentation output. It accepts media up to 104 inches wide, including banners, vinyls, films, fabrics, papers, and mesh with liner.
Its rated top speed is useful for estimating production capacity, but it is not the whole shift. Loading a 104-inch roll, aligning it, managing take-up, cutting, trimming, and taking finished graphics off the reel all affect delivery. Rated speed gets you a banner. Media handling gets you forty banners by Friday.
104" (2641 mm)Maximum media widthFull-width roll printing for large-format graphics.
753 ft²/hr (2-pass bidirectional)Fastest listed print modeHP-rated mode; finished throughput depends on media and handling.
Up to 19.7 milMedia thicknessBy paper path.
775 mlInk cartridge volumeUses HP Latex Inks.
Where it fits in an AEC operation
This machine makes sense where the print room handles work that ordinary 36-inch CAD plotters do not: construction fence banners, jobsite identification, directional graphics, large color-coded maps, public-meeting displays, presentation boards, and wide visual coordination output. The roll feed and take-up reel support longer unattended runs than hand-fed sheets, while the automatic cutter is specified for vinyl, paper-based media, backlit polyester film, and thin banners.
There is one input roll. That is workable for a focused production run, but it is a real constraint in a mixed queue. A team alternating between vinyl signage, banner stock, paper graphics, and film should count every roll change as operator time. The machine supports 23- to 104-inch rolls, so small shops can run narrower material, but its electrical requirement and 104-inch media path make it a purposeful production-room installation rather than a casual office plotter.
RIP, files, and production controls
CAD, BIM exports, PDFs, GIS files, and graphics packages reach this printer through a RIP. That matters: the RIP is purchased separately, and both operating-system compatibility and minimum system requirements depend on the RIP selected. IT should validate PDF handling, color controls, queue management, user permissions, and accounting before committing the machine to a project-critical workflow.
The installed supply path is built around HP 792 inks and HP 792 printheads. The available maintenance items include HP CG424A printing film through HP CR663A printing film, plus the HP DesignJet L2x500 User Maintenance Kit. For an AEC print room, availability of these supplies matters as much as the printer specification. A paused site-sign package is not just a delayed print; it can leave an installer, superintendent, or delivery crew waiting.
Ask three things: what feeds it, what RIP drives it, who supports it locally. Those answers will tell you more about daily uptime than a headline speed figure.
Use the estimator as a starting point for print time, then add time for roll loading, take-up, cutting, trimming, and job changeovers.
One set: – · Weekly plotting time: –
Computed from the manufacturer's rated 753 ft²/h. Real-world mixed sets run slower — treat this as a best case for comparing machines, not a promise.
What it does not replace
This is a print-only device. Firms that routinely scan marked-up drawings, copy legacy plans, or need walk-up wide-format MFP work should not treat it as a replacement for a scanner-equipped system. The HP DesignJet T918 36-in is a narrower, scanner/MFP alternative in the catalog, but it is discontinued and serves a different workflow: document capture and 36-inch output rather than 104-inch graphics production.
It is also not the natural choice for an office whose output is mostly monochrome permit sets and standard construction drawings. A narrower document printer can be easier to place, load, and operate for that work. This HP Latex platform becomes more compelling when wide color graphics are recurring operational output, not an occasional outsourced exception. See the side-by-side workflow comparison or the wide-format class ranking for a broader fit check.
Related reading
The read
The HP Latex 280 104-in Printer is a specialized AEC graphics-production tool, not a general CAD plotter. It fits central print rooms, contractors, infrastructure teams, and design groups with steady demand for very wide banners, vinyl, films, maps, boards, and site graphics. Its single-roll design asks for disciplined scheduling; its RIP dependency asks for IT validation; and its print-only configuration keeps scanning outside the workflow. For a small shop with only occasional 104-inch work, outsourcing may remain simpler. For a team feeding wide graphics every week, the width, take-up reel, supported media range, and HP-rated production modes are the practical reasons to consider it.
Spec analysis
How the specs grade
Overall performance
—Not enough data for an overall score
Individual dimensions are shown where the specs support them.
Category leaders best latex signage printers, by dimension
Specifications
Full technical detail
Max print width64"
Use caseCAD / Technical
Printing
| Print head | 6 (2 x yellow/black, 2 x cyan/light cyan, 2 x light magenta/magenta) |
|---|---|
| Print head nozzles | 2112 |
| Print speed (imperial) | 753 ft²/hr (2-pass bidirectional), 430 ft²/hr (4-pass bidirectional), 301 ft²/hr (6-pass bidirectional), 198 ft²/hr (8-pass bidirectional), 158 ft²/hr (10-pass bidirectional), 132 ft²/hr (12-pass bidirectional), 99 ft²/hr (16-pass bidirectional) |
| Print cartridge volume (metric) | 775 ml |
Performance
| Certification | WEEE; EU RoHS; China RoHS; REACH; EuP; FEMP; UL |
|---|
Paper handling
| Media handling | Roll feed; take-up reel; automatic cutter (for vinyl, paper-based media, backlit polyester film, and thin banners) |
|---|---|
| Custom media sizes | 58 to 264-mm rolls |
| Maximum media width | 2641 mm |
| Media types supported | Banners, vinyls, films, fabrics, papers, mesh (liner used with porous media) |
| Media thickness (by paper path) | Up to 19.7 mil |
| Non-printable area roll media (imperial) | 0.2 x 0.2 x 0.2 x 0.2 in |
Power
| Power requirements | Input voltage: 3-phase, 200 to 240 VAC (+/- 10%), 40 A or 380 to 415 VAC (-10% +6%), 24 A; 50/60 Hz (+/- 3 Hz) |
|---|
Other features
| Safety | USA and Canada (CSA certified); EU (LVD and EN 60950-1 compliant); Russia (GOST); China (CCC) |
|---|---|
| Ink drop | 12 pl |
| Functions | |
| Roll maximum input | 1 |
| Acoustic power emissions | 8.0 B(A) |
| Minimum system requirements | Will depend on selected RIP solution. RIP to be purchased separately, not included. |
| 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) |
| Compatible ink types, supplies | HP Latex Inks |
| Acoustic pressure emissions (standby) | 45 dB(A) |
| Media sizes standard (imperial rolls) | 23 to 104-in rolls |
| Minimum system requirements for Macintosh | Will depend on selected RIP solution. RIP to be purchased separately, not included. |
System requirements
| Compatible operating systems | Will depend on selected RIP solution. RIP to be purchased separately, not included. |
|---|
Everything that fits the HP DesignJet Latex 280
The full supplies hub lists every cartridge, printhead, roll and accessory verified against the manufacturer's own documentation for this machine.
13 ink cartridges · 3 printheads · 57 paper & media items · 5 accessories
HP DesignJet Latex 280 ink and paper →Supplies
Compatible ink, printheads & media
Genuine consumables that fit the HP Latex 280 104-in Printer ( DesignJet L28500 104-in Printer) — only the cartridges, printheads and media compatible with this model.
Ink Cartridges 13
HP One-view Perforated Adhesive Window Vinyl-1067 mm x 50 m (42 in x 164 ft)
HP 792 Black Latex Ink Cartridge, 775 ml (CN705A)
HP 792 Cyan Latex Ink Cartridge, 775 ml (CN706A)
HP 792 Magenta Latex Ink Cartridge, 775 ml (CN707A)
HP 792 Yellow Latex Ink Cartridge, 775 ml (CN708A)
HP 792 Cyan Latex Ink Cartridge, 775 ml (CN709A)
HP 792 Light Magenta Latex Ink Cartridge, 775 ml (CN710A)
HP 792 775-ml Magenta Latex Ink Cartridge print head Thermal inkjet
HP 792 775-ml Light Magenta Latex Ink Cartridge print head Thermal inkjet
HP 792 775-ml Cyan Latex Ink Cartridge print head Thermal inkjet
HP 792 775-ml Black Latex Ink Cartridge print head Thermal inkjet
HP 792 775-ml Light Cyan Latex Ink Cartridge print head Thermal inkjet
HP 792 775-ml Yellow Latex Ink Cartridge print head Thermal inkjetPrintheads 3
Paper & Media 57
Representative image16 mil Water-Resistant Opaque Scrim VinylRepresentative image16 Mil WR Opaque Scrim Vinyl (3″ AC)Representative image15 Mil Water-Resistant Econo Scrim VinylRepresentative image11 Mil Water-Resistant Synthetic BannerRepresentative image10 Mil Solvent Printable PolycarbonateRepresentative image180gsm Solvent Satin PE PaperRepresentative image15 Mil Polycarbonate LaminateRepresentative image15 Mil Textured Co-polymer LaminateRepresentative image200gsm Special Matte Photo PaperRepresentative image10 Mil Water-resistant Blockout Display FilmRepresentative image10 Mil Solvent Blockout Display FilmRepresentative image10 Mil White Opaque Backer
HP Photo-realistic Poster Paper-914 mm x 61 m (36 in x 200 ft) large format media Satin
HP CG423A self-adhesive vinyl Permanent High-gloss
HP CG424A printing film
HP CG425A printing film
HP CG426A printing film
HP CG435A large format media
HP CG439A large format media
HP CG420A photo paper
HP CG421A photo paper
HP CG440A large format media
HP Blue Back Billboard Paper-1603 mm x 80 m (63 in x 262 ft) large format media Satin
HP CG456A printing film
HP CG502A photo paper Satin
HP CG454A printing film
HP CG453A printing film
HP DuPont Tyvek Banner-914 mm x 30.5 m (36 in x 100 ft) large format media Semi-gloss
HP CG445A large format media
HP DuPont Tyvek Banner-1524 mm x 45.7 m (60 in x 150 ft) large format media Semi-gloss
HP DuPont Tyvek Banner 2642 mm x 100.6 m (104 in x 330 ft) large format media
HP CG455A printing film
HP CH001A photo paper
HP CH002A photo paper White
HP CH005A printing film
HP CH006A large format media 50 m
HP CG934A printing film
HP CH007A large format media 50 m
HP CH008A large format media 100 m
HP CG935A printing film
HP CH010A photo paper
HP CG436B large format media 40 m
HP CR660A printing film
HP CR661A printing film
HP CR662A printing film
HP CR663A printing film
HP PVC-free Wall Paper 1372 mm x 30.5 m (54 in x 100 ft) large format media
HP PVC-free Wall Paper 1067 mm x 30.5 m (42 in x 100 ft) large format media
HP CR687A large format media
HP CR688A large format media
HP CR689A large format media
HP CR690A large format media
HP CH103A large format media
HP CR691A large format media 45 m
HP CR692A large format media 45 m
HP CR693A large format media 45 m
HP CR694A large format media 100 m
Questions
Straight answers
What AEC work is the HP Latex 280 104-in Printer suited to?
It is suited to wide color output such as construction signage, banners, wayfinding, GIS displays, presentation boards, and large project graphics. It supports banners, vinyls, films, fabrics, papers, and mesh when liner is used with porous media.
Can it replace a 36-inch CAD scanner/printer?
Not by itself. This is a print-only machine, while the HP DesignJet T918 36-in is a scanner/MFP model; however, that narrower model is listed as discontinued.
How wide can it print?
The maximum media width is 104 inches (2641 mm). Standard roll sizes are listed as 23 to 104 inches.
Does it handle long banner runs?
It has roll feed and a take-up reel, and it supports banner media. The automatic cutter is specified for vinyl, paper-based media, backlit polyester film, and thin banners.
What software does the printer require?
A RIP must be purchased separately. Compatible operating systems and minimum system requirements depend on the RIP solution selected.
What supplies should the print room plan around?
The machine uses HP 792 inks and HP 792 printheads. The support plan should also account for the applicable printing-film maintenance supplies and the HP DesignJet L2x500 User Maintenance Kit.
Ready to put the HP DesignJet Latex 280 to work?
Configuration, media and a quote tailored to your workflow — from AEC plotter specialists.