Comparative ratings of HP DesignJet 5500ps based on evaluations and review

Since we were content with our two HP DesignJet 5000ps printers (one at each university where FLAAR has an office) for the first year we did not upgrade to the newer 5500ps. But readers kept asking for our opinion on the 5500ps, so we decided to acquire one for evaluation.

Now the setup and installation evaluation review is available.

We can summarize our experience with the HP DesignJet 5500ps so far: we now have nineteen printers. But there are only about five of them that we use on a regular basis to do the printing at both universities: the two ColorSpan (XII and Mach 12, both with dye ink), and the three HP printers (42” 5000ps, 60” 5000ps, and new 60” 5500ps).

The 5500ps is easy to use (our students learn in an hour or so). Plus, it is not an ink hog. It can print fine art photography, décor, and giclée at museum quality. Remember, on canvas you can’t see much dpi over 300 and definitely not much dpi over 600 (because of the rough texture of the canvas). Same with watercolor paper and fabrics such as silk. 600 dpi is fine.

HP DesignJet 5500ps arriving at FLAAR facility at BGSU

First posted : Oct. 25, 2003