Two new ePrinters aimed at AEC freelancers, small studios, and students who are out of the office half the time but still want access to printing.
HP today added entry-level large-format printers to its emerging AEC cloud-based print and view service. The two printers are aimed at students, freelancers, and small studios who want the ability to view and print plans through a web portal. The update also includes the second generation of the free web service HP Designjet ePrint & Share, which works with the new printers to access and print large-format documents using an iOS or Android tablet or smartphone, a laptop or ePrinter touch screen.
The new HP Designjet T120 and T520 ePrinter series are designed for users who want anywhere access to print services but can’t justify the cost of existing large-format printers in HP’s line. The compact, 24-inch HP Designjet T120 ePrinter series is aimed at students and freelancers, while the 24- and 36-inch HP Designjet T520 ePrinter series is designed for small AEC teams in need of fast, professional printing.
The new HP Designjet T120 ePrinter is the smallest printer in its class, with a footprint of only 38.9 inches (987 mm). It offers a built-in B+/A3 tray and front-loading roll. There is a full-color touch screen designed for those new to large format. Minimum line width is 0.0016 inch (0.04 mm).
The HP Designjet T520 ePrinter comes in both 24- or 36-inch models, and offers processing power twice the speed and resolution of its predecessor. With 1 GB RAM and HP-GL/2 technology, the HP Designjet T520 ePrinter operates at up to 35 seconds per D/A1 print. Minimum line width is 0.0008 inch (0.02 mm), with density up to 2,400 dots per inch (dpi).
The HP Designjet T120 ePrinter series is expected to be available worldwide on Sept. 24 for an estimated retail price of $1,000. The HP Designjet T520 ePrinter series, available in 24- and 36-inch models, is expected to be available worldwide on Sept. 24 for estimated prices of $1,800 and $2,500, respectively. HP Designjet ePrint & Share is available at no additional cost for HP Designjet customers by creating an account. The mobile application is available through Google Play and Apple’s App Store.
Our take
The paper-free office may soon be celebrating its 30th anniversary as an unrealized ideal. The current stagnant economy has led to an increase in the number of freelancers and small studios hustling for work, and they all need large-format prints of their design ideas.
These new potential customers for large-format printing are more likely to think and act mobile; HP’s Santiago Morera (GM of the large-format printing division) says they spend more than 50% of their time out of the office. Next, it would be really slick if somebody tied HP’s ePrint & Share service to review and markup —or even just supported HP/GL2. Are you listening, CADfaster and ISMI/Design?
