Browse Definitions :
Definition

plotter

What is a plotter?

A plotter is a printer that interprets commands from a computer to make line drawings on paper with one or more automated pens. Unlike a regular printer, a plotter can draw continuous point-to-point lines directly from vector graphic files or commands.

Types of plotters include the following:

  • Drum plotters, which draw on paper wrapped around a drum that turns to produce one direction of the plot while the pens move to provide the other direction.
  • Flatbed plotters, which draw on paper placed on a flat surface.
  • Electrostatic plotters, which draw on negatively charged paper with positively charged toner.
  • Inkjet plotters, which use inkjet printer technology and colored inkjet pens to deliver beads of ink in an assortment of colors to the drawing surface using vector graphic technology to move the pen plotters.

HP is the leading vendor of plotters worldwide. Other manufacturers in this market include Canon, Epson and Graphtec.

Photo of Epson plotter printer
The Epson SureColor T7770D is a 44-inch, large format, dual-roll technical printer.

How are plotters used?

Plotters are also referred to as large-format printers and wide-format printers. They were the first type of output device that could print high-resolution continuous lines, text and images with color and generate graphics and full-sized engineering drawings.

Plotters are more expensive than traditional printers. They are frequently used for computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) and computer-aided engineering (CAE) applications, such as computer-aided design or CAD drawings. Plotter uses also include generating blueprints, graphs, technical drawings and architectural drawings.

Cutting plotters can be programmed to generate an image and also cut out the image using special cutting tools or lasers. This is useful for working with materials besides paper, such as vinyl that's used to create signs and billboards.

Photo of the HP DesignJet T830 plotter
The HP DesignJet T830 is a large-format, multifunction plotter printer.

Plotter software

The two types of plotter software on the market are the following:

  1. General-purpose software supports a range of drawing requirements.
  2. Special-purpose software is designed to help nonprogrammers use the graphics applications properly. Examples of special-purpose plotter software include CAD, painting, business systems and medical systems.

Pros and cons of using plotters

The advantages of using a plotter include the following:

  • Specialized applications. Plotters can generate high-resolution line drawing, images, graphics and text for specialized applications, such as printing on large pieces of paper on a flatbed type of printer.
  • Variety of material. Besides paper, plotters can print on other surfaces, such as cardboard, fabrics, plastic, plywood and aluminum.
  • Repetition. They can repeat the same pattern many times, with no degradation of image quality.
  • Quality. Traditional printers can generate similar images to those of a plotter printer, but often without the clarity, especially with complex line drawings.

Some drawbacks associated with plotters include the following:

  1. Size. They are typically larger than traditional printers.
  2. Cost. They usually cost more than traditional printers.

Plotter evaluation and selection

The application and its requirements will determine the type of plotter and software needed for a task. An online search can identify plotter candidates and vendors. Consider the secondary market of used and reconditioned plotters as a cost-effective alternative for obtaining a suitable device.

Increasingly, computer hardware devices are being offered using the as-a-service model. Learn more about the device-as-a-service option.

This was last updated in September 2022

Continue Reading About plotter

Networking
  • firewall as a service (FWaaS)

    Firewall as a service (FWaaS), also known as a cloud firewall, is a service that provides cloud-based network traffic analysis ...

  • private 5G

    Private 5G is a wireless network technology that delivers 5G cellular connectivity for private network use cases.

  • NFVi (network functions virtualization infrastructure)

    NFVi (network functions virtualization infrastructure) encompasses all of the networking hardware and software needed to support ...

Security
  • virus (computer virus)

    A computer virus is a type of malware that attaches itself to a program or file. A virus can replicate and spread across an ...

  • Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

    Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) is an advanced certification that indicates that an individual possesses the ...

  • cryptography

    Cryptography is a method of protecting information and communications using codes, so that only those for whom the information is...

CIO
  • B2B (business to business)

    B2B (business-to-business) is a type of commerce involving the exchange of products, services or information between businesses, ...

  • return on investment (ROI)

    Return on investment (ROI) is a crucial financial metric investors and businesses use to evaluate an investment's efficiency or ...

  • big data as a service (BDaaS)

    Big data as a service (BDaS) is the delivery of data platforms and tools by a cloud provider to help organizations process, ...

HRSoftware
  • talent acquisition

    Talent acquisition is the strategic process an organization uses to identify, recruit and hire the people it needs to achieve its...

  • human capital management (HCM)

    Human capital management (HCM) is a comprehensive set of practices and tools used for recruiting, managing and developing ...

  • Betterworks

    Betterworks is performance management software that helps workforces and organizations to improve manager effectiveness and ...

Customer Experience
  • martech (marketing technology)

    Martech (marketing technology) refers to the integration of software tools, platforms, and applications designed to streamline ...

  • transactional marketing

    Transactional marketing is a business strategy that focuses on single, point-of-sale transactions.

  • customer profiling

    Customer profiling is the detailed and systematic process of constructing a clear portrait of a company's ideal customer by ...

Close