HP announced the new HP Designjet 4500 Printer Series, aimed at delivering a cost-effective color printer targeted at the technical graphics market. Up until now, the Designjets, though popular, were not the most affordable ones. With 4500 series, HP plans to change that.

These large-format printers offer faster and sharper image quality during color printing, copying and scanning - all without needing user intervention. The printer is available in three models; as a printer (with two media rolls and stacker if you wish), as a large-format scanner, or as a multifunctional printer.

One of the neat features is the unattended mode of operation. The Designjet 4500 supports two media rolls, as well as capability to switch between them, giving unattended output of up to 200 plots. HP Double Swatch technology is used here, which doubles the number of print nozzles by placing the printheads in a staggered formation allowing it to print faster than other printers in its league.

Recognizing the need for color prints in architectural and engineering environments, HP has pushed for adoption of color printers, now at an affordable price. Prints up to 2400 x 1200 dpi are possible. Various price structures are available depending on the model you choose (all prices in USD):