HP DesignJet CAD Plotting Guide: Families, Drivers and AutoCAD Setup
HP DesignJet covers everything from compact 24-inch technical plotters to high-volume 36- and 44-inch workgroup devices. The important AutoCAD skill is not memorizing model numbers; it is understanding the driver, media and Page Setup workflow that stays consistent across families.
Beginner takeaway: Start with the exact driver and media workflow, then choose the closest DesignJet family only for the hardware-specific differences.
Where this family fits in CAD plotting
Use this overview to choose the correct hardware branch before troubleshooting. Compact T200/T600 devices emphasize simple single-roll office workflows; T700/T900-era machines remain common in field and legacy workgroups; T1600/T1700-class devices add higher-volume, multi-roll or advanced processing options. The AutoCAD foundation—driver, Page Setup, media and physical verification—stays the same.
- HP positions DesignJet technical plotters for CAD drawings, maps and AEC workflows.
- Compact T200/T600 families focus on smaller offices, while T1600/T1700-class devices target larger workgroups.
- Many DesignJet families support roll media, and some workgroup models add dual-roll, PostScript or PDF-engine capabilities.
What matters in AutoCAD
- Use the manufacturer system printer driver for modern DesignJet devices unless a specific supported workflow requires something else.
- Treat the PC3 as a saved AutoCAD configuration layer, not as the printer driver itself.
- Expect the available media list and printable area to change when the device or driver changes.
Related CADPlotting guides: HP DesignJet CAD Printing Guide, System Printer vs PC3 in AutoCAD: Which Should You Use?, and CAD Paper Sizes, Margins & Printable Area.
Beginner setup: create one reliable AutoCAD test Layout
Step 1 — Install the manufacturer driver first
Where: HP support site / operating-system printer settings
Do this: Install the driver intended for the exact device and operating system. Confirm the printer works outside AutoCAD before building a PC3.
Check: A test page or manufacturer utility can reach the device.
Step 2 — Open one AutoCAD Layout
Where: Layout tab > PAGESETUP > Modify
Do this: Select the system printer or approved PC3, then choose the real paper/roll size used for the test.
Check: The intended media is visible and the orientation matches the title block.
Step 3 — Keep the sheet at real paper size
Where: PAGESETUP > Plot Area / Plot Scale
Do this: For a prepared Layout, use the Layout workflow and keep the paper output at 1:1. Let viewport scale control the model view.
Check: Plot Preview shows the complete border without Fit to Paper.
Step 4 — Preview before hardcopy
Where: Ctrl+P > Preview
Do this: Inspect border edges, rotation, lineweights and raster content before sending a physical job.
Check: The Preview is correct before the plotter driver becomes part of the diagnosis.
Step 5 — Create a controlled PC3 only when useful
Where: PLOTTERMANAGER / Page Setup
Do this: Save a PC3 when you need repeatable device-specific settings that differ from the Windows/macOS printer defaults.
Check: The PC3 is named by device + media/office standard, not by a vague name such as ‘Plotter 1’.
Paper, rolls and printable area
Roll width, cut-sheet support, automatic feeder behavior and dual-roll options vary by family. Always read the actual installed driver’s media list instead of assuming a paper name will exist.
Hardware margins are device/media specific. A title block that fits a PDF driver can still clip on a physical DesignJet if the border sits outside that device’s printable area.
Driver and PC3 strategy
Autodesk’s current guidance for modern HP plotting emphasizes using the latest HP Windows system printer driver. Create a PC3 when you need saved AutoCAD-specific overrides or standardized device settings.
Common CAD plotting problems with this family
| Symptom | Most likely hardware/driver layer | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Printer is missing in AutoCAD | OS driver / network queue | Prove Windows/macOS can see the printer first. |
| Paper size disappeared | Driver/PC3 media list | Re-select the device and inspect its current media names. |
| Preview correct, paper wrong | Driver / physical device | Print the same PDF at 100% before editing the DWG. |
| Large job is partial | Driver/device memory or complex content | Test a smaller sheet and update the manufacturer driver. |
What not to automate or assume
- Do not use the generic HP-GL/2 driver by default for a modern HP DesignJet simply because the printer is made by HP.
- Do not assume two DesignJet generations expose identical paper names or margins.
- Do not create one PC3 and copy it to every workstation without checking the installed printer/driver mapping.
Practical example
A new workstation can see the DesignJet, but ARCH D is missing in AutoCAD. Before editing any DWG, compare the installed HP queue/driver with a working workstation, reopen PAGESETUP and inspect the media list. If the driver exposes the correct paper, rebuild or remap the PC3; if it does not, the problem is below AutoCAD.
Verification before a real issue set
- Run AutoCAD Plot Preview from the named Page Setup.
- Create one PDF and compare page dimensions and scale.
- Print that same PDF or one direct test plot on the intended media.
- Check the border on all four sides, one known dimension, lineweight hierarchy and orientation.
- Only then save the Page Setup/PC3 as the office standard for that device.
Official references
Frequently asked questions
Should I use the generic HP-GL/2 driver for this DesignJet?
For modern HP DesignJet devices, Autodesk’s guidance points users to the current HP system printer driver. Use generic HP-GL/2 only when you have a specific supported/emulation reason.
Do I need a PC3?
Not always. Use one when AutoCAD needs saved device-specific overrides or a controlled office configuration.
Why can the PDF be correct while the physical plot is wrong?
Because the PDF proves the AutoCAD/PDF stage; the physical driver, media source, margins and device still act afterward.
Explore more in CAD Printers & Plotters Guide.