Description
HP DesignJet Z6DR 44-inch PostScript Dual Roll Large Format Printer with Vertical Trimmer (T8W18A)
Professional 44-inch Dual Roll Graphics Printer with Automatic Vertical Trimming
The HP DesignJet Z6dr 44-inch PostScript Large Format Printer with V-Trimmer is a professional graphics printer designed for businesses that need outstanding image quality, vibrant colour reproduction, efficient dual-roll media handling and automated finishing.
With a maximum print width of 1118 mm (44 inches), two automatic roll feeds, smart roll switching and an integrated vertical trimmer, the HP DesignJet Z6dr is designed to streamline production of posters, GIS maps, photographs, presentation graphics, technical drawings and other professional large-format applications.
Its six-colour HP Vivid Photo pigment ink system, high-definition printheads, HP Pixel Control and integrated Adobe PostScript processing provide exceptional detail and reliable colour reproduction, while powerful onboard processing helps the printer handle complex graphics and PDF files efficiently.
For print service providers, GIS departments, photographers, designers, retailers and professional graphics environments, the Z6dr combines high-quality printing with productivity features normally requiring additional manual finishing.
Key Features
Professional 44-inch / 1118 mm Large Format Printing
The HP DesignJet Z6dr supports media up to 1118 mm / 44 inches wide, providing ample capacity for professional graphics and technical applications.
It is ideal for producing:
- Posters
- Professional photography
- Retail graphics
- Point-of-sale displays
- GIS maps
- Satellite imagery
- Aerial photography
- Architectural renderings
- Presentation boards
- Technical drawings
- Engineering graphics
- Exhibition graphics
- Marketing materials
- Backlit displays
- Fine art reproductions
- Signage
The combination of wide-format capability, professional colour quality and automated finishing makes the Z6dr an exceptionally versatile production printer.
Dual Roll Printing
The “dr” designation means Dual Roll, and this is one of the key advantages of the HP DesignJet Z6dr.
The printer features two automatic roll feeds, allowing two rolls to remain loaded and ready for printing at the same time.
This enables users to keep:
- Two different media widths loaded
- Two different media types loaded
- Photo paper and coated paper ready simultaneously
- Two identical rolls for extended production
- Poster media and technical paper loaded together
Having two rolls available reduces the need for frequent manual media changes and helps maintain productivity throughout the day.
Smart Automatic Roll Switching
The Z6dr can intelligently switch between its two loaded rolls according to the media required for each print job.
This helps reduce:
- Manual roll changes
- Operator intervention
- Production downtime
- Media-handling delays
- Interruptions between different applications
For businesses producing a continuous mix of posters, maps, graphics and technical documents, smart roll switching provides a major workflow advantage over a conventional single-roll printer.
Integrated Vertical Trimmer
One of the standout features of the HP DesignJet Z6dr is its built-in V-Trimmer vertical cutting system.
Traditional large-format printers normally cut media horizontally across the roll after printing. If a poster or graphic is narrower than the roll, the side edges still need to be trimmed manually.
The Z6dr solves this problem by combining an automatic horizontal cutter with an integrated vertical trimmer.
The printer can therefore trim both the leading/trailing edge and the side edges of compatible prints.
This can significantly reduce manual finishing for applications such as:
- Posters
- Maps
- Retail graphics
- Presentation graphics
- Photographic prints
- Display graphics
- Signage
The result is a more complete finished print directly from the printer.
Reduce Manual Finishing Time
The V-Trimmer can be particularly valuable in busy graphics environments where operators would otherwise need to manually trim every print.
Automated trimming can help:
- Reduce operator labour
- Improve production speed
- Minimise manual cutting
- Produce consistent finished dimensions
- Improve workflow efficiency
- Reduce bottlenecks during high-volume production
For businesses producing large quantities of posters or maps, this finishing automation can save significant operator time.
Six HP Vivid Photo Pigment Inks
The HP DesignJet Z6dr uses a professional six-colour HP Vivid Photo Ink system.
The ink colours are:
- Cyan
- Magenta
- Yellow
- Chromatic Red
- Photo Black
- Matte Black
All six colours use pigment-based ink technology.
The inclusion of Chromatic Red helps produce vibrant reds and strong colour reproduction, making the printer particularly suitable for promotional graphics, maps, photography and display applications.
Separate Photo Black and Matte Black inks optimise black reproduction across glossy, photographic and matte media without requiring manual black-ink switching.
High-Definition HP Printheads
The Z6dr incorporates high-definition HP printhead technology designed to reproduce exceptionally fine details.
The printing system contains 12,672 nozzles in total, with 2,112 nozzles per colour.
HP's dual-drop technology helps produce different ink-drop sizes to improve detail and tonal transitions.
This is particularly beneficial for:
- Fine photographic detail
- Small text
- GIS map labels
- Thin technical lines
- Architectural details
- High-resolution raster imagery
- Colour gradients
- Detailed graphics
HP Pixel Control
The HP DesignJet Z6dr uses HP Pixel Control imaging technology to provide precise control over colour combinations.
This helps produce smooth gradients, detailed shadows and professional colour transitions across complex graphics and photographic applications.
HP Pixel Control is particularly useful when reproducing:
- Photography
- Architectural visualisations
- Landscapes
- Skin tones
- Colour gradients
- GIS maps
- Presentation graphics
- High-resolution artwork
The result is professional output with excellent detail and smooth tonal reproduction.
Up to 2400 × 1200 Optimised dpi
The Z6dr produces output at up to 2400 × 1200 optimised dpi, providing the fine detail required for professional graphics, photography and technical applications.
This high-resolution capability makes the printer particularly effective for documents containing:
- Fine lines
- Detailed text
- High-resolution photographs
- Complex maps
- Architectural renderings
- Technical graphics
- Raster imagery
- Fine design elements
Fast Professional Graphics Production
The HP DesignJet Z6dr combines professional image quality with impressive production speed.
HP specifies printing speeds up to:
Plain Media – Fast Mode: up to 80.5 m²/hr
Coated Media – Normal Mode: up to 18.8 m²/hr
Glossy Media – Best Mode: up to 9.7 m²/hr.
This provides an excellent balance between production speed and professional image quality.
Adobe PostScript 3
The HP DesignJet Z6dr incorporates Adobe PostScript 3, making it particularly suitable for professional graphics and commercial print environments.
PostScript processing is valuable when handling complex files containing:
- Vector graphics
- Embedded fonts
- Transparency
- High-resolution images
- Complex layouts
- Mixed raster and vector graphics
- Professional design elements
This provides greater confidence when printing customer-supplied and designer-generated files.
Adobe PDF Print Engine
The printer's professional Adobe workflow also supports sophisticated PDF processing.
Complex PDFs can contain multiple layers, transparency, fonts, raster images and vector elements.
The Z6dr's Adobe-based processing helps preserve the intended appearance of these files while providing an efficient workflow for professional production.
This is especially valuable for:
- Graphic design studios
- Print service providers
- GIS departments
- Architectural firms
- Reprographic businesses
- Corporate marketing departments
Excellent for Professional Photography
The Z6dr's pigment-based HP Vivid Photo Inks, high-definition printheads and HP Pixel Control make it an excellent choice for high-quality photographic applications.
Suitable applications include:
- Portrait photography
- Wedding photography
- Landscape photography
- Architectural photography
- Commercial photography
- Exhibition prints
- Portfolio prints
- Studio enlargements
- Photographic displays
The 44-inch print width allows photographers to produce impressive large-format images, while automatic trimming can help reduce finishing time.
Outstanding GIS & Mapping Performance
The HP DesignJet Z6dr is particularly well suited to GIS and mapping applications.
Detailed maps may contain hundreds of colours, fine lines, small text, raster imagery and complicated datasets.
The printer's high-definition print system helps maintain clarity across complex geographic information.
Typical GIS applications include:
- Topographic maps
- Cadastral maps
- Environmental maps
- Geological maps
- Mining maps
- Utility maps
- Urban planning
- Infrastructure maps
- Satellite imagery
- Aerial photography
- Colour-coded geographic data
The combination of 44-inch width, dual-roll media handling and automated trimming makes the Z6dr particularly efficient for professional map production.
Ideal for Poster Production
The integrated V-Trimmer makes the HP DesignJet Z6dr especially attractive for businesses producing posters.
Operators can load a wide roll of media and produce narrower finished posters without manually trimming the side edges after printing.
This is ideal for:
- Retail posters
- Promotional graphics
- Event posters
- Point-of-sale displays
- Corporate graphics
- Educational displays
- Exhibition graphics
- Advertising materials
By automating more of the finishing process, businesses can improve turnaround times while reducing manual labour.
300 ml HP 746 Ink Cartridges
The HP DesignJet Z6dr uses HP 746 300 ml ink cartridges.
Available colours include:
- HP 746 Cyan
- HP 746 Magenta
- HP 746 Yellow
- HP 746 Chromatic Red
- HP 746 Photo Black
- HP 746 Matte Black
The high-capacity 300 ml cartridges help reduce cartridge changes during demanding production runs.
Wide Range of Compatible Media
The HP DesignJet Z6dr supports a broad range of professional graphics media.
Compatible media categories include:
- Photo paper
- Gloss photo paper
- Satin photo paper
- Semi-gloss photo paper
- Matte photo paper
- Fine art media
- Bond paper
- Coated paper
- Heavyweight coated paper
- Self-adhesive media
- Polypropylene
- Backlit media
- Banner media
- Signage media
- Presentation media
- Canvas
HP states that the vertical trimmer can cut qualified HP Z-series media, including most canvas media.
This media flexibility allows one printer to handle many different commercial graphics applications.
Automatic Horizontal & Vertical Cutting
The Z6dr incorporates both:
Automatic Horizontal Cutter
and
Integrated Vertical Trimmer
Together, these features enable more automated finishing than a conventional large-format graphics printer.
The horizontal cutter separates the completed print from the media roll, while the vertical trimmer can trim the side edge of compatible jobs.
This helps produce finished graphics with less manual post-processing.
Powerful Processing for Complex Files
Professional graphics, high-resolution photography and GIS maps can contain enormous amounts of data.
The HP DesignJet Z6dr includes:
128 GB virtual file-processing memory
and
500 GB self-encrypting internal storage.
This onboard processing capability helps manage complex files and large print queues without unnecessarily tying up users' computers.
HP Click – Easy Large Format Printing
HP Click provides a straightforward workflow for submitting large-format jobs.
Users can preview files before printing, helping identify potential layout problems before consuming ink and media.
HP Click can help:
- Simplify job submission
- Preview prints
- Submit multiple files
- Reduce incorrect printing
- Reduce unnecessary media waste
- Improve workflow for occasional operators
This makes the Z6dr practical for both specialised graphics operators and general office users.
Professional Security
The HP DesignJet Z6dr is designed for networked professional environments and incorporates enterprise-oriented security capabilities.
Its 500 GB self-encrypting drive helps protect stored print data, while network security and device-management capabilities help businesses integrate the printer into professionally managed IT environments.
This makes the Z6dr suitable for:
- Corporate environments
- Government departments
- GIS organisations
- Architecture and engineering firms
- Professional print businesses
Connectivity
The HP DesignJet Z6dr provides professional network and direct-printing connectivity.
Standard connectivity includes:
- Gigabit Ethernet
- Hi-Speed USB 2.0
- Direct printing from USB flash drives
- Network printing
- HP Click workflows
HP confirms Gigabit Ethernet and direct USB printing for this model.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | HP DesignJet Z6dr 44-inch PostScript |
|---|---|
| Product Number | T8W18A |
| Printer Type | Professional Dual Roll Graphics Large Format Printer |
| Functions | |
| Maximum Print Width | 1118 mm / 44 inches |
| Print Technology | HP Thermal Inkjet |
| Maximum Resolution | Up to 2400 × 1200 optimised dpi |
| Fast Speed – Plain Media | Up to 80.5 m²/hr |
| Normal Speed – Coated Media | Up to 18.8 m²/hr |
| Best Speed – Glossy Media | Up to 9.7 m²/hr |
| Ink System | 6 colours |
| Ink Type | Pigment-based HP Vivid Photo Inks |
| Ink Colours | Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Chromatic Red, Photo Black, Matte Black |
| Ink Cartridge Capacity | 300 ml |
| Printheads | 3 universal printheads |
| Total Printhead Nozzles | 12,672 |
| Print Resolution | Up to 2400 × 1200 optimised dpi |
| Adobe PostScript | Adobe PostScript 3 |
| Adobe PDF Processing | Supported |
| File-Processing Memory | 128 GB virtual |
| Internal Storage | 500 GB self-encrypting drive |
| Roll Configuration | Dual Roll |
| Automatic Roll Feeds | 2 |
| Smart Roll Switching | Yes |
| Vertical Trimmer | Integrated V-Trimmer |
| Horizontal Cutter | Automatic |
| Sheet Feed | Top sheet feed |
| Output Handling | Dual automatic roll feed, smart roll switching, sheet feed, output bin, horizontal cutter and vertical trimmer |
| Maximum Roll Width | 1118 mm / 44 inches |
| Connectivity | Gigabit Ethernet |
| Direct USB Printing | Yes |
| HP Click | Supported |
| Typical Applications | Posters, photography, GIS, maps, retail graphics, presentations and technical graphics |
