How To: Configure the HP DesignJet 2500CP for Use with ArcGIS

Summary

A variety of settings to configure the Hewlett-Packard 2500CP for optimum use with ArcGIS ArcMap is suggested below. Select those settings that pertain to your printer and desired output.

Note:
This article is intended for a broad audience and may not suit individual needs.

ESRI Support currently has this printer in-house.

Procedure

This article assumes that the HP 2500CP has been configured to work with your computer either as a local printer or through a network print server, and that all components are functioning properly. Administrative privileges are necessary to modify the driver settings.

· Printer Drivers - There are two types of printer drivers available for these printers: HP-GL2/HP-RTL and PostScript.

1. HP-GL2/HP-RTL - This is Hewlett-Packard's standard driver for the Windows operating systems.

This is the HP-GL2/HP-RTL version 4.61 printer driver for the HP 2500CP. It can be found by going to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Printers and right-clicking on the icon for the 2500 and choosing either Document Defaults or Printing Preferences.

2. PostScript - This driver uses Adobe Series 3 PostScript and is only available for use with a PostScript-compatible printer.

This is the Adobe Series 3 PostScript driver for the HP 2500CP. It can be found by going to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Printers and right-clicking on the icon for the 2500CP and choosing either Document Defaults or Printing Preferences.

· Printer Interface - The interface found on the front of the printer. Below are the settings that need consideration when printing with ArcGIS. The settings below are found in the Printer Setup menu.

1. Nesting

1. In the Printer Setup menu press the down arrow until you find Queueing & Nesting and press Enter.
2. Press the down arrow until you find Nest or Nesting and press Enter.
3. Press the appropriate arrow to get to the Off setting and press Enter.

2. Size

1. In the Printer Setup menu press the down arrow until you find Page Format and press Enter.
2. Press the down arrow until you find Size and press Enter.
3. Press the appropriate arrow to get to the various size settings and press Enter.

3. Rotate

1. In the Printer Setup menu press the down arrow until you find Page Format and press Enter.
2. Press the down arrow until you find Rotate and press Enter.
3. Press the appropriate arrow to get to the rotation setting desired and press Enter.

4. Margins

1. In the Printer Setup menu press the down arrow until you find Page Format and press Enter.
2. Press the down arrow until you find Margins and press Enter.
3. Press the appropriate arrow to select the desired margin setting and press Enter.

5. Language

1. In the Printer Setup menu press the down arrow until you find Device Setup and press Enter.
2. Press the down arrow until you find Language or Lang and press Enter.
3. Press the appropriate arrow to get to the Language setting desired and press Enter.

Note:
Nesting is not supported with ArcGIS, and the Language setting only needs to be modified on PostScript printers.

Making selections
Below is a list of settings found to produce the most consistent results. Please note that an increase in quality settings will result in a decrease in speed and vice versa.

· When printing with ArcPress use the HP-GL2/HP-RTL driver and select the HP RTL Device Dithered (RGB) driver in the ArcPress properties. This driver is called HP RTL RGB in ArcGIS 9.X. Note: when using ArcPress with this printer certain settings on the printer are required.

1. Nesting=Off
2. Size=Inked Area
3. Rotate=0
4. Margins=Normal
5. Language=Automatic

· When printing map documents that contain only photography such as aerials and orthoquads, use the PostScript driver with the Windows print engine.

· When printing map documents that contain only vector data such as points, lines, and polygons, with no transparencies, use the HP-GL2/HP-RTL driver with the Windows print engine.

· When printing map documents that contain only raster data, such as TIFFs and DRGs, use the PostScript driver with the PostScript printer engine.

· Under most circumstances, map documents with many transparencies produce the best results using the PostScript driver with the PostScript printer engine.

· When printing many maps that contain both raster and vector data, the PostScript driver with Windows print engine works well.

· Setting a Custom Page size.

On the HP-GL2/HP-RTL driver

1. Close ArcMap/ArcView.
2. Enter the driver interface.
3. In the Paper Sizes menu, click the More Sizes button under the Application Page Size section.
4. The Custom paper size section is on the right; set the desired custom size, click OK, and click OK again at the driver window.

Now when you open ArcMap the new custom size will be available to you.

[O-Image] HP-GL2/HP-RTL Custom Page Sizes

On the PostScript driver

1. Close ArcMap/ArcView.
2. Enter the driver interface.
3. Click the Advanced button.
4. In the Paper Sizes pulldown menu, click the PostScript Custom Page Sizes option and click Edit Custom Page Sizes.
5. Set the desired custom size,  click OK, and click OK again at the driver window.

Now when you open ArcMap the new custom size will be available to you.

[O-Image] HP PostScript Custom page size

Known issues with the HP 2500CP and ArcMap

1. With the Nesting option 'On', ArcGIS and ArcPress will produce a strip of paper about an inch long.

2. This printer has been found to be somewhat slow in comparison to similarly aged printers.

Article ID:000006008

Software:

ArcMap 8 x
ArcMap 9 x
Legacy Products

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Configure the HP DesignJet 2500CP for use with ArcGIS

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