HP DesignJet Driver Problems in AutoCAD: Missing Sizes, Scale and Orientation
Most HP DesignJet problems that appear suddenly after a Windows, driver or workstation change are not drawing problems. Use a device-first diagnostic path before touching viewport scale or title blocks.
Start with this rule: When the same DWG plots correctly on one workstation and incorrectly on another, compare drivers and PC3 mappings before changing the drawing.
Why this problem happens
Driver updates can change device names, media lists, printable areas and orientation behavior. AutoCAD Page Setups may keep references to a previous printer/PC3 even when the underlying operating-system queue changed.
Related CADPlotting guides: PC3 Works on One Computer but Not Another, AutoCAD Plot Orientation Changes After Switching Printer, and AutoCAD Plot Scale Changes After Switching Printer or PC3.
Step-by-step workflow
Step 1 — Prove the printer outside AutoCAD
Where: Windows/macOS printer settings
Do this: Print a device test page or manufacturer diagnostic.
Check: The queue and network path work.
Step 2 — Record the exact driver/queue
Where: Printer properties
Do this: Compare the working and failing workstations.
Check: You know whether the driver generation differs.
Step 3 — Open the affected Page Setup
Where: PAGESETUP > Modify
Do this: Check Printer/Plotter, paper and orientation.
Check: The Page Setup points to the intended current queue.
Step 4 — Refresh/recreate the PC3 if needed
Where: PLOTTERMANAGER
Do this: Update the PC3 mapping or create a clean one from the working system printer.
Check: Old invalid device references disappear.
Step 5 — Run a calibration plot
Where: Plot Preview > PDF > hardcopy
Do this: Check scale, margins and rotation.
Check: The repaired driver path matches the known-good result.
How to tell which layer is responsible
| Symptom | Most likely hardware/driver layer | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Paper size missing | Driver/media change | Inspect current HP driver media list. |
| Orientation flips | Driver custom properties | Compare printer orientation and AutoCAD Page Setup. |
| Scale changes only on hardcopy | Viewer/driver scaling | Print a correct PDF at Actual Size. |
| PC3 invalid | Queue name changed | Remap/recreate the PC3. |
Settings worth standardizing
- Driver version/update procedure.
- PC3 deployment procedure.
- Approved paper-size map.
- Post-update calibration test.
Common mistakes
- Editing title blocks to fit one broken workstation.
- Keeping a stale driver forever because an old PC3 references it.
- Assuming a driver update cannot affect printable area.
When to stop troubleshooting AutoCAD
If the issue follows the workstation or HP queue rather than the DWG, stop modifying drawing content. Repair the driver/PC3 environment.
Official references
Frequently asked questions
Should I change viewport scale while troubleshooting this?
Not unless the viewport itself is proven wrong. Hardware/driver problems should not be fixed by changing model scale.
Should I test a PDF first?
Yes. A correct PDF is a useful boundary: it proves the AutoCAD output stage before the physical printer path.
When should I recreate the PC3?
When the underlying device/driver mapping changed or the PC3 is invalid—not as the first response to every plot problem.
Explore more in CAD Printers & Plotters Guide.