HP unveils web-connected, large- format ePrinters

HP this week expanded its portfolio of web-connected HP Designjet ePrinters that make large-format printing easy and offer instant file access to professionals in the architecture, engineering and construction industries.

The new HP Designjet T1300 ePrinter primarily serves large work groups, while the HP Designjet T790 ePrinter is tailored for small, mobile technical design teams. Both devices simplify the large-format printing and content-sharing process so that design professionals can focus on building and executing their ideas. With HP’s web-connected ePrinters, users can:

Plug in a USB thumb drive or connect a laptop directly to the device to print with driverless printing

Print from and scan directly to the web without a computer and preview projects through the large-format industry’s only colour touchscreen interface, now with direct access to HP ePrint & Share,(1) a free cloud-based solution

Print remotely from a computer or smartphone to any web-connected HP Designjet with HP ePrint & Share; and,

Design without interruption and protect their investment with automatic software updates through the web-connected server.

“Last year, HP announced the first web-enabled, integrated multifunction printer priced below $9,000, which introduced an improved way to collaborate and share large-format content,” said Santiago Morera, vice president and general manager, Designjet Large-Format Solutions, HP. “Today, HP is dramatically simplifying the large-format printing experience by enabling our customers to print and upload their personal content to and from the web in an instant and access their files where the job takes them.”

HP also announced a free firmware upgrade for all existing HP Designjet T2300 eMFP customers. The update provides immediate access to HP ePrint & Share from the printer’s touch screen, making the HP Designjet T2300 eMFP the industry’s first web-connected large-format printer with print, scan and copy functionality.

“The HP Designjet T2300 eMFP enables a more streamlined process of communicating changes, making sure everyone is aware of what’s happening in real time,” said Marcelo Spina, co-principal of PATTERNS, a Los Angeles-based architectural practice. “Now we can redline directly on the drawings, scan them and share them through HP ePrint & Share knowing that our hand annotations will be accurately seen and read by the entire team.”

The first large-format ePrinter designed for work groups, the HP Designjet T1300 ePrinter helps teams to meet tight deadlines and printing peaks by offering two media rolls and smart switching as well as the ability to print up to two A1/D-sized prints per minute. Features such as an Embedded Web Server, which offers user access control, and Secure Disk Erase meet advanced security needs.

Offering the simplicity of a plug-and-play device with the collaboration features of HP ePrinters, the HP Designjet T790 ePrinter series enables small teams to produce high-quality computer-aided design drawings while collaborating with colleagues in a connected work environment. Available in 24- or 44-inch models, the device features an easily accessible top-loading roll and 8 gigabytes of memory, allowing users to print complex files with ease.  

“The HP Designjet T790 ePrinter saves me time, money and resources,” said Charles H. Byrd, founder and president of IntelliStructures, a Middleburg, Va.-based developer of structural insulated panels. “As a small company, that’s very important to me. I don’t have to outsource printing, and I control when, how and on what media I print.”

HP ePrint & Share is a printing and sharing tool that allows designers to easily locate and access their large-format plans on the cloud, and to adjust page layouts, preview print pages and create print-ready files from a single screen. Users also can upload files with a single click while printing is in process to quickly and easily share designs with remote project teams.

HP ePrint & Share is available as a download at no additional cost for HP Designjet customers. It also is accessible from the colour touchscreen of the web-connected HP Designjet T2300 eMFP and HP Designjet T1300 and T790 ePrinters.

With the HP ePrint & Share plug-in for AutoCAD, users can access HP ePrint & Share directly from Autodesk’s industry-leading AutoCAD design and documentation application and create print-ready files with just one click. Additionally, a licence of AutoCAD Raster Design software, included with the purchase of the HP Designjet T2300 eMFP, enables the full scanning of sketches, printed plans or blueprints, which can then be digitised and vectorised for further design work.

“Both Autodesk and HP are dedicated to providing our customers with solutions that enable them to do what they do best – design and create amazing things,” said Amy Bunszel, vice president, AutoCAD products, Autodesk. “The HP ePrint & Share plug-in makes printing from AutoCAD easier than ever, saving customers’ valuable time and enhancing productivity.”