Viewers can't help but admire the sleek sweeping curves of the HP DesignJet Z3100 44 PS printer. It is much more attractive and compact than the prior HP DesignJet 5000 or 5500 models and significantly quieter. In fact, in standby mode the Z3100 is virtually silent at 29 dB(A) except for the useful brief bursts of periodic printhead clearing a few times a day. Active power consumption is 200 watts and 27 watts in Powersave mode. The most outstanding feature is the on-board spectrophotometer that calibrates ink for various paper types. The PS model comes with HP Advance Profiling Solution (APS) software that offers additional color swatches for more precise paper and monitor calibration profiles. Anticipating changing paper lots and humidity fluctuations, users are prompted to update profiles monthly (or other specified intervals) assuring accurate, repeatable color.
Mechanics
The HP "Z" series of printers (Z2100, Z3100, Z6100) use water-resistant HP Vivera pigment inks that last indoors for 1+ years unlaminated, 3+ years laminated and 200+ years without direct sun exposure. With 50 percent more inks and wider media handling (44 vs 42 inch), the 12-color Z3100 offers advantages over its faster 8-color Double Swath Z6100 sibling. The latter, however is available with a 60-inch width and has much larger ink cartridges (775 ml vs 130 ml). The Z6100 is designed for volume, whereas the Z3100 excels in output quality. A 24-inch Z3100 and an inferior 8-color Z2100 are available. The Web-base printer monitor can display the status and control all networked Z series print queues.
The 12 inks (11 colors and 1 clear gloss enhancer) help reproduce more of the RGB spectrum for color and quad-tone B+W photos. Gloss enhancer, only available on gloss media, can either cover the entire page or just inked areas to practically eradicate metameric failure. CMYK images also reproduce well since all images are internally converted to L*a*b* color space and back to RGB during rasterization and printing. "Best" mode outputs 2400x1200 optimized dpi (dots per inch), which is virtually indistinguishable from the much faster "Normal" mode at 1200 dpi. "Draft" 600 dpi is also available for photos that lack enough pixel data required for higher resolution printing. I find that 200 to 240 ppi (pixels per inch) at final output size is ideal for large posters printed in "Normal" mode requiring about 9 minutes.
Customized Pantone formulations matched to each HP-brand paper are embedded within Z series printers. Unedited Pantone colors used within professional graphics applications like Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and QuarkXPress override photographic color profiles to provide consistent proofing. Because of application rasterization, Pantone colors used within image editors like Adobe Photoshop conform to image profiles, bypassing the internal hardware profiles.
The 44-inch width is breaking new ground, offering more imaging area than traditional 42-inch printers. Unfortunately, very little 44-inch media is yet available and lamination used for encapsulation is more common in 43 than 45 inch widths. In some cases, rolls of wider media may need to be cut down but this increases production cost. Though the Z3100 is a roll-fed printer, it also accept sheets. Too bad alignment of the latter requires visual positioning with no mechanical guide. Printouts are collected in a textured fabric apron as opposed to a take-up reel provided standard on the 60-inch Z6100 (and prior DesignJet 5000 and 5500). Take-up reels are advantageous for printing multiple prints with the automatic cutter disabled. A reel can then feed posters into a separate laminator without contamination by dust or finger oils.
Recommendation
After a rather bumpy introduction, output from the Z3100 44 can now be recommended to others desiring ultimate color control. PostScript (PS) models accept more file formats and include an internal hardware RIP - particularly useful for a PDF workflow. However, if ownership of more than one large-format printer is planned, an independent RIP may be more cost effective. Third-party RIP software compatible with the Z series is not plentiful at the time of this writing.
Color is accurate. And with HP APS, profiles can be edited even for non-HP printers. For photographers not involved with page layouts, EPS, or PDF files, the Z3100 Photo printer is available - primarily designed for printing from Adobe Photoshop or other image editor software. Photo printers are primarily for photographers and PS models are for graphic artists though an overlap in professions may warrant the PS model for photographers.
Large-format printer ownership is not for the faint at heart. Background in color management, photo editing, and basic networking is advantageous. There are many papers available other than glossy photo, and ironically, matte papers have more longevity. New users prepared to spend a significant sum on paper and devote up to 60 days to diligent proofing can be rewarded with proficiency. The on-board spectrophotometer definitely makes such an education easier.
Demerits have nothing to do with print quality. Rather, more timely correction of printer malfunctions by HP are necessary and an automatic take-up roller option would be appreciated. There is little to recommend about the Z2100 with fewer ink colors. Unless your focus is primarily high-volume posters more suitable for the Z6100, the Z3100 is just right. But don't forget the extended warranty.