HP DesignJet T120 user guide

The large-format printer in DevLab can be used to print posters or other large items.

The printer has inputs for normal-sized sheets of paper and a large roll (24 inches wide). Note that the printer has a built-in cutter to separate print jobs from the roll.

To use the roll, make sure the paper feeds from the top of the roll (shown below), and use the touchscreen to select “roll.” Follow the onscreen instructions to load the roll, if it isn’t already loaded. The printer may take a little while to set itself up. Once the roll setting is selected (indicating that the roll is loaded and ready for use), you can print from the attached iMac.

There are a few settings specific to the printer that will be of use when setting up your print job. In the Mac print menu, these can be accessed from the third dropdown that initially displays “Copies & Pages.”

The pictured print options are for Microsoft Word. Options in other applications may look different, but should have the same sections. You might need to click “Show Details” to reveal them. If you need to select a paper size, try “ARCH D,” and check the scaling options to ensure you’re printing your project at the appropriate size (if you’ve created a file that is, for example, 24 inches by 36 inches, a standard poster size, you can safely enter “100%” even if the print settings default to a slightly lower percent scale).

The “Paper/Quality” menu includes the setting to tell the printer to use the large roll rather than the normal sized sheet tray. This menu also includes quality settings for the printer. The “speed” setting results in noticeable streaking and inconsistency in image quality. “Quality” is recommended for all situations (see comparison below).

Finally, the “Finishing” menu has two options of use for printing with the roll. “Remove Blank Areas” stops the print once blank areas are reached (useful if you’re just printing a large image but don’t need a full “page”). “Disable Automatic Cutter” stops the printer from cutting the page loose from the roll when it’s finished. This is not recommended, since you’ll have to cut the roll manually and probably the have to reinstall the roll, but may be of use in certain situations.

As the poster comes out of the printer, you may want to support it so it doesn’t fall on the floor, which may cause creases.