When discussing common types of printers, plotters stand out for their niche ability to create detailed technical drawings, maps, and architectural plans. This specialized printer is used in industries like architecture and engineering where exact precision and large-scale printing are essential. In this article, we’ll delve into the definition of a plotter, its uses, types, and the benefits and disadvantages this printer has.
Plotter explained briefly
A plotter is a massive printer designed to print large-scale drawings on paper and other materials. Depending on the type, it uses pens, LEDs, heat, or ink.
Definition: Plotter
A plotter printer or just “plotter” is a computer-controlled printing device that uses a pen or marker to draw continuous lines on printer paper. Back then, plotters were used for computer-aided designs since they were faster than regular printers, that is until they got replaced by laser printers in the 1980s.
Unlike regular printers that print tiny dots, a plotter follows vector commands to draw lines directly. These large-format printers can print on numerous materials, including paper, vinyl, film, and fabric in the sizes of A4 paper dimensions, A0 paper dimensions, and even larger.
Types
There are several types of plotters, the most common ones are explained below.
A drum plotter rotates paper around a drum while fixed pens draw the images. This common type uses pens with multicolored inks and works perfectly with bendable materials like PVC or canvas.
Uses
- Architectural blueprints
- Engineering drawings
- Mechanical designs
A flatbed plotter keeps the paper stationary on a flat surface while the pens move across the surface. This plotter can print on larger and different materials compared to a drum plotter, such as plywood, sheet metal, and plastic surfaces.
Uses
- Circuit diagrams
- Fabric patterns
- Large technical illustrations
An inkjet plotter belongs to the modern plotters as it uses the printing ink spraying technology. Essentially, it’s a giant version of a desktop inkjet printer that can handle raster images (pixels) which allows it to create gradients and complex shading with dots. It typically uses large rolls of paper, photo paper, or even vinyl.
Uses
- CAD drawings
- Graphic design projects
- Posters
A cutting plotter uses blades instead of pens to cut materials such as paper, vinyl, or leather. Most cutting plotters perform what is called a “kiss cut,” where the pressure is adjusted so perfectly that it cuts the vinyl but doesn’t cut through the wax-paper backing.
Uses
- Sign-making
- T-shirt & sticker printing
- Vinyl lettering
Uses
Plotters can be used for various purposes, which is why we have listed some of them down below.
- Banners
- Billboards
- Blueprints
- Charts & graphs
- Computer-aided designs (CAD)
- Fabric patterns
- Floor plans
- Large-format graphics
- Maps
- Mechanical drawings
- Presentation posters
- Schematics
- Survey plans
- 2D and 3D outputs
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Plotters vs. wide-format printers
Plotters were originally designed to use continuous lines using pens or knives to follow vector paths (mathematical coordinates). Wide-format printers use raster technology (pixels) as they spray tiny droplets of liquid ink in a series of dots to recreate an image.
Choose a plotter if…
- you are an architect, engineer, or mapmaker.
- you need pinpoint accuracy for technical drawings.
- your work relies on the rendering of vector-based lines.
Choose a wide-format printer if…
- you are in marketing, photography, or retail.
- you need vibrant banners or photos.
- your prints require deep blacks and accurate skin tones.
Note: Most machines sold today as “plotters,” such as the HP DesignJet series, are technically wide-format inkjet printers, yet the industry still calls them plotters because they are primarily used for technical line work.
Benefits & disadvantages
When it comes to plotters, there are numerous benefits and disadvantages that can come with them, which should be considered before purchasing one.
Pros
- High accuracy & precision
- Can use larger paper sizes
- Ideal for large-format printing
- Prints on numerous materials & sizes
Cons
- Slow printing speed
- Takes up a lot of space
- Higher maintenance costs
- Text prints aren’t very high quality
- Expensive compared to regular printers
FAQs
A plotter is used for printing large-format prints, such as blueprints and maps.
Three types of plotters are the inkjet plotter, drum plotter, and cutting plotter.
While they can both put ink/toner on paper, they aren’t exactly the same. A printer is a generalist designed for documents and photos, whereas a plotter is a specialist designed for precision and scale.
The main drawbacks include its massive size, slow speed, and high cost.
