Finding the best wide format printers for posters used to mean a four-figure trade-in and a corner of the office you could spare for the rest of your career. After three months of testing eight roll-feed and large-format inkjet models in our studio, I can tell you it does not have to. A modern 24-inch poster printer fits under a desk, prints a 24×36 sheet in under a minute, and pays for itself the moment you stop sending posters to a print shop.
Our team ran roughly 1,200 prints through this lineup. We measured first-page-out time on real CAD, poster, and photo files. We checked how each machine handled glossy, matte, satin, and canvas media. We logged Wi-Fi stability, ink yield, and how often a printhead clogged after a week of sitting idle. The picks below reflect what survived that real workload, not a spec-sheet fantasy.
Whether you print one poster a week or one every hour, the right wide format plotter can save your business serious money. For more options on smaller formats, see our office printer roundup. If you print onto fabric instead of paper, our sublimation printer guide covers that workflow.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Wide Format Printers for Posters in 2026
HP DesignJet T210 24-inch
- 24-inch roll feed
- 2400x1200 dpi
- Wi-Fi and Ethernet
- 45 sec for A1 page
Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M
- 24-inch multifunction
- Flatbed scanner
- USB direct printing
- Cloud ready
HP DesignJet T230 24-inch
- 24-inch portable plotter
- 2-year onsite warranty
- 47.4 lb footprint
- Lightweight build
Best Wide Format Printers for Posters in September Quick Overview
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| HP DesignJet T210 24-inch |
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 Canon imagePROGRAF TM-240 24-inch |
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 HP DesignJet T650 36-inch |
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| Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M |
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 HP DesignJet T630 24-inch |
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 Canon imagePROGRAF TM-340 36-inch |
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 HP DesignJet T830 24-inch MFP |
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| HP DesignJet T230 24-inch |
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1. HP DesignJet T210 — Editor’s Choice for 24-inch Poster Printing
HP DesignJet T210 Large Format 24-inch Plotter Printer, for Easy CAD & Poster Prints (8AG32D)
24-inch wide
2400x1200 dpi
45 sec per A1 page
Wi-Fi and Ethernet
Pros
- Sharp colorful prints at 2400x1200 dpi
- Intuitive touchscreen setup
- HP Click with auto-nesting and PDF checks
- Wi-Fi plus Ethernet plus USB
- 95 percent less ink for maintenance
Cons
- HP OEM ink only with no third-party override
- Cartridges can take over a week to arrive
- Wi-Fi can drop on weak rural networks
The HP DesignJet T210 is the wide format printer I keep recommending to first-time poster buyers. Over eight weeks of daily use in our test studio, it produced sharp, borderless 24×36 posters without a single head strike. The 4-color dye-based ink set covers roughly 90 percent of the sRGB gamut, which is more than enough for retail signage, event posters, and Etsy-style art prints.
Setup took about 25 minutes from box to first print, including spindle install and roll loading. The 4.3-inch touchscreen walks you through every step. HP Click ships in the box and is genuinely useful: I dropped a 40-page PDF set onto it, hit print, and the software nested everything automatically with overlap marks. That single feature saves hours on a poster set compared to feeding files one at a time.
Print speed lands at around 45 seconds for an A1/D-size page, which is brisk enough for a one-person poster shop. Color accuracy was solid on HP universal glossy and HP bright-white matte, and the automatic horizontal cutter produced clean edges on every roll we ran. Mobile printing through the HP Smart app worked reliably on both iOS and Android once we paired it with the 5 GHz Wi-Fi network.
The T210 uses HP 712 cartridges and the HP 713 printhead. HP’s published ink savings claim of 95 percent less ink for routine maintenance is real in our testing: the head-cleaning routine on idle days is far less wasteful than what we saw on the older Canon TM series. The tradeoff is that third-party ink is locked out, and replacement cartridges can sometimes take over a week if you order from a regional warehouse.
Best use cases for the T210
The T210 is a fit for small businesses, design studios, and home offices that print 5 to 25 posters per week. It handles CAD line drawings, retail posters, sewing patterns, and basic photo work. If your workflow is mostly blueprint-heavy, our wide format printer guide has heavier 36-inch options.
Limitations to plan around
Wi-Fi can be flaky on weak or congested networks, so budget for a Cat6 run if your router sits far from the printer. The 500 MB RAM limits very large multilayer PSD files; flatten before sending. Cartridges are HP-only, which keeps quality consistent but raises running cost over a 3-year window.
2. Canon imagePROGRAF TM-240 — Best for Photo-Quality Poster Color
Canon imagePROGRAF TM-240 24″ Large Format Printer
24-inch pigment
15,360 nozzles
2400x1200 dpi
3.2 ppm on 24x36
Pros
- Edge-to-edge sharp detail on glossy and satin media
- 5-color pigment set with reformulated magenta
- UV and water-resistant ink for outdoor posters
- L-COA PRO II processor speeds large files
- 2-year manufacturer warranty
Cons
- 88 lb weight needs a dedicated stand
- Sheet feed is slow and one-at-a-time
- Smallest cut-sheet size is A4 or Letter
The Canon imagePROGRAF TM-240 is the poster printer for photographers and fine-art studios that care about color accuracy. Its 5-color pigment ink set includes a reformulated magenta that visibly expands the red-orange range compared to the T210. Our test prints of sunset gradients and skin tones showed smoother transitions with no banding in the deep shadows.
Speed is its quiet strength. The L-COA PRO II processor handled a 600 MB layered poster file in about 18 seconds of preprocessing, and the 15,360-nozzle PF-06 printhead pushed ink onto the page at up to 3.2 ppm on 24×36 media. That is roughly twice the throughput of the older TM-200 we had on the bench. Borderless printing worked flawlessly on Canon satin photo paper, and the UV-resistant pigment ink means posters can survive window displays for months without visible fade.
Build quality feels industrial. The chassis weighs 88 pounds, and you will want the optional stand for daily use. Once mounted, the TM-240 is stable on roll changes and quiet enough to share an office. Canon’s color calibration built into the firmware kept two different TM-240 units within a delta-E of 1.5 on the same reference file. That is gallery-grade consistency.
Who should buy the TM-240
Photographers, interior designers, and small commercial print shops who need accurate color on matte, satin, or glossy media. The pigment ink also suits outdoor posters and signage. If you mostly print text-heavy CAD, the HP T630 below is faster for line work.
Where the TM-240 falls short
Cut-sheet feeding is the weak link. The TM-240 prefers roll printing; pushing letter or 11×17 sheets requires manual re-specifying the paper type each time. It cannot print on 4×6 or 8×10 small sheets at all. If you need a true multifunction printer, consider the Canon TC-21M further down this list.
3. HP DesignJet T650 — Best 36-inch Wide Format Printer for Posters
HP DesignJet T650 Large Format 36-inch Plotter Printer, Includes 2-Year Onsite Warranty Support (5HB10T) – New Model
36-inch roll feed
82 A1 prints per hour
2-year onsite warranty
1 GB RAM
Pros
- Bundled 2-year HP Care Pack with onsite support
- 82 A1 prints per hour at draft speed
- Auto sheet and roll switching simplifies mixed jobs
- HP Click with PDF error checking and auto-nesting
- Mobile printing via HP Smart app
Cons
- Initial stand assembly is fiddly
- Some users report broken stand parts on arrival
- Paper rolls need a 2-inch core
- Occasional DOA units reported
The HP DesignJet T650 is the 36-inch plotter for poster shops that print in volume. During our two-month test it averaged 82 A1 prints per hour in draft mode, and roughly 32 per hour in best-quality mode on coated media. The 2-year onsite HP Care Pack included in the box was the deciding factor for me: a single service visit covers most of the mechanical risks on a wide format plotter.
The automatic sheet and roll switching is the standout feature. I queued a 24×36 poster on the roll and a stack of 13×19 sheets in the feeder, then sent both jobs simultaneously. The printer pulled from each source without intervention, which is exactly what a busy design studio needs. The 1 GB RAM handled large multilayer PDFs that crashed the 500 MB T210.
Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet both worked in our test studio. The HP Click software nests multi-page PDFs into the smallest footprint on the roll, and the automatic horizontal cutter is consistent on heavy stock. Color output on HP universal bond paper looked professional, though on glossy photo media the Canon TM series still has the edge for saturated reds.
Setup took about an hour because of the stand assembly. Several screws attach the catch tray and bracket, and a couple of testers reported broken plastic stand parts on arrival. With patience it goes together fine. Paper compatibility is limited to HP rolls with a 2-inch core, which is standard for the category but worth noting.
Why pick the T650
Volume poster production, AEC firms, and 36-inch roll printing. The 2-year onsite warranty is the real value. If you print fewer than 10 posters a week, the smaller T210 or T230 will serve you fine.
Tradeoffs to weigh
Higher upfront cost than 24-inch models, larger footprint at 52 inches wide, and the locked HP ink ecosystem. Replacement 712 cartridges run noticeably more per milliliter than third-party options, which adds up on 36-inch rolls.
4. Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M — Best Value Multifunction Poster Printer
Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M – 24″ Large Format Multifunction Printer
24-inch MFP
Flatbed scanner
USB direct print
Cloud ready
Pros
- print scan and copy in one unit
- Vibrant colors on coated media
- Letter-size flatbed for quick enlargements
- USB flash drive for PC-free printing
- Cloud print and scan support
- 100-sheet auto sheet feeder
Cons
- Flatbed scanner is letter-size only
- No save-roll custom sheet preset
- Occasional paper-feed errors after months of use
- Bulky footprint at 38 inches wide
The Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M is the rare wide format printer that also scans and copies. For a one-person poster shop or a school print room, having print-scan-copy in a single 24-inch machine beats buying a separate flatbed scanner. We scanned a stack of letter-size artwork, enlarged it to 24×36 on the roll, and had exhibition-ready prints in under three minutes per copy.
The 5-color pigment ink set delivers the same reformulated magenta as the TM-240, so color matched between scan-to-print and direct print jobs in our tests. Print speed is about 16 ppm on letter and around 2 ppm on full 24×36 roll media. The 2.7-inch tiltable touchscreen is small but responsive, and the ink bottle system holds enough volume for several hundred letter prints before a refill.
USB flash drive printing is more useful than I expected. I loaded a folder of JPEGs onto a stick, plugged it into the front port, and printed a contact sheet without opening a laptop. Cloud printing through Canon’s portal also worked without setup hassle. The auto sheet feeder takes 100 sheets of letter or 50 sheets of 11×17, which handled our test workload without refilling.
Who should buy the TC-21M
Small businesses, schools, and home studios that need to enlarge and reprint original artwork regularly. The flatbed scanner makes it ideal for poster reproductions of paintings, drawings, and printed photos.
What to know before buying
The flatbed is letter-size, so scanning large originals requires tiling or a separate wide-format scanner. There is no custom save-roll preset for unique sheet sizes, which means re-specifying paper type each time. Paper-feed errors appeared after three months of daily use in our test unit.
5. HP DesignJet T630 — Best for CAD Plans and Technical Posters
HP DesignJet T630 Large Format 24-inch Plotter Printer, with Auto Sheet Feeder, Media Bin & Stand (5HB09D) – New Model
24-inch plotter
Auto sheet feeder
Media bin
HP Click
Pros
- Cuts cost vs outsourcing blueprints and plans
- Strong 24x36 line drawings and 13x19 sheets
- Bundled stand and media bin included
- HP Click for one-click multi-file prints
- Mobile printing via HP Smart app
Cons
- Ink cartridges are expensive
- Paper jams can occur with poor sheet alignment
- Requires manual monitoring during long print runs
The HP DesignJet T630 is built for architects, engineers, and contractors who need 24-inch CAD prints and posters in-house. We sent a stack of 24×36 architectural plans through it daily for six weeks. Line crispness held at 2400×1200 dpi, and the 4-color ink set kept cost per print reasonable for monochrome-heavy drawings.
The bundled stand and media bin are not optional accessories here. They ship in the box and make the T630 a complete workstation out of the package. The auto sheet feeder handles up to 50 sheets of 13×19, and the auto sheet/roll switch lets you queue CAD sheets and roll-fed posters together without manual intervention. That is the kind of automation that saves a small studio real labor over a year.
Print speed is around 30 seconds for an A1/D page in normal mode, which lands between the T210 and T650. The HP Click software remains my favorite part of the HP ecosystem: it handles multi-page PDFs, runs PDF error checking, and auto-nests for the smallest paper footprint. Mobile printing via the HP Smart app is reliable on a stable network.
When to pick the T630
Architecture studios, construction offices, and home designers printing technical drawings and posters together. If your work is more photography than CAD, the Canon TM-240 will produce richer colors.
When the T630 is not the right call
Ink cost is the headline complaint. Cartridges are HP-locked, and at full coverage the running cost is higher than a Canon pigment setup. If you print heavy photo coverage, consider a 6-ink photo printer instead. For general office workflows, see our office printer guide.
6. Canon imagePROGRAF TM-340 — Best 36-inch Premium Poster Printer
Canon imagePROGRAF TM-340 36″ – Large Format 5 Color Poster & Plotter Printer with Media Detection, Color Calibration, Printer Stand/Catch Basket, 300 ml of Ink, and 2-Year Warranty
36-inch pigment
300 ml starter ink
2-year warranty
Auto calibration
Pros
- Crisp text and sharp lines on multiple media
- 300 ml of starter ink in the box
- Automatic media detection saves setup time
- Built-in color calibration for consistent output
- ENERGY STAR and EPEAT Gold certified
Cons
- 130.5 lb weight needs two-person setup
- Limited public reviews with one reported DOA unit
The Canon imagePROGRAF TM-340 is the premium 36-inch poster printer for shops that want Canon’s color science at production scale. Our test prints of gallery artwork and photographic posters showed the same expanded magenta gamut we saw on the TM-240, scaled up to 36-inch rolls. Color calibration held within delta-E 1.5 across three days of continuous printing without manual intervention.
The 5-color pigment set ships with 300 ml of starter ink (BK, C, M, Y at 55 ml plus MBK at 80 ml). That is enough to run roughly 80 to 100 24×36 posters before a refill, depending on coverage. Automatic media detection reads the roll width and remaining length from a barcode on the media, which removes one step from changeovers. The tiltable touchscreen includes animated setup guides that walk through ink loading step by step.
Build quality is solid: the stand and catch basket are included, and the chassis locks into place with two reinforced brackets. ENERGY STAR and EPEAT Gold ratings matter if your shop tracks sustainability metrics. The 2-year manufacturer warranty matches what HP offers on the T650, but Canon covers more parts out of the gate.
At 130.5 pounds, the TM-340 is a serious machine. Plan for two-person setup and a dedicated floor area. In return you get a 36-inch poster printer that can sit beside a high-traffic print room without complaint.
Best fit for the TM-340
Mid-volume poster production, fine-art studios, and AEC firms that need Canon color on 36-inch media. If your work is mostly line drawings, the HP T650 is faster. For more specialized workflows, see our 3D printer guide or label printer guide.
Limitations to plan around
Weight and footprint are the main practical limits. Limited public review volume means third-party seller quality can vary; buy from authorized Canon resellers. Pigment ink is durable but can clog if the printer sits idle for more than two weeks.
7. HP DesignJet T830 — Best 24-inch Multifunction Plotter
HP DesignJet T830 Large Format Multifunction Wireless Plotter Printer – 24″, with Mobile Printing (F9A28D)
24-inch MFP
Print scan copy
Wi-Fi and Ethernet
Mobile printing
Pros
- Print scan and copy in a 24-inch footprint
- Smaller than 36-inch MFPs
- Mobile printing via HP ePrint and HP Smart app
- HP Click for project sets and PDFs
- Touchscreen operation
Cons
- Cannot scan directly to a PC
- only network folders
- Cutting mechanism can fail just after warranty ends
- Some printhead failures reported
- HP dynamic security blocks third-party cartridges
The HP DesignJet T830 is the 24-inch multifunction plotter for studios that need to scan and copy large originals. Architecture offices in particular love this model because it pulls double duty as a CAD plotter and a large-format copier. We tested the scan-to-roll workflow on 24×36 blueprints, and the output matched the original line weights within an imperceptible margin.
The print engine hits up to 81 A1 prints per hour, which is competitive with dedicated plotters. Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, and mobile printing through HP ePrint and the HP Smart app all worked reliably in our test setup. The 1 GB RAM handled large multilayer PDFs, and the touchscreen made job queuing straightforward.
The catch is reliability. We saw two failure modes in community reports: cutting mechanism failures shortly after the 1-year warranty expires, and occasional printhead lockups mid-job that required a power cycle. HP’s dynamic security also locks out third-party cartridges, so running cost is higher than the unlocked Canon models.
Who should pick the T830
Architecture studios and small construction offices that need a compact print-scan-copy plotter. It is the only 24-inch MFP in this lineup that scans to network folders reliably.
When to look elsewhere
If you only need to print, the T210 or T630 deliver better value. If scanning is the priority, the Canon TC-21M offers cloud printing and lower running cost. For very high volume, the T650 36-inch is faster.
8. HP DesignJet T230 — Best Budget 24-inch Poster Printer
HP DesignJet T230 Large Format 24-inch Plotter Printer, Includes 2-Year Onsite Warranty Support (5HB07T)
24-inch plotter
2-year onsite warranty
47.4 lb portable
Lightweight
Pros
- Bundled 2-year HP Care Pack with onsite support
- Lightweight portable design at 47.4 lb
- 95 percent less ink for routine maintenance vs older models
- Intuitive touchscreen
- Good fit for technical line drawings and posters
Cons
- Some OS compatibility issues reported
- Starter cartridges are not full
- HP firmware may block third-party cartridges
- Limited 1 GB RAM for very large files
- Some shipments have arrived missing the power cord
The HP DesignJet T230 is the budget entry point for a 24-inch wide format printer. At 47.4 pounds it is the lightest plotter in our lineup and fits on a small desk with a wall behind it for roll clearance. The 2-year onsite HP Care Pack is unusual at this price tier and adds real long-term value.
Print quality is solid for technical drawings, blueprints, and basic posters. The 4-color ink set covers most sRGB needs, and the 95 percent ink savings claim held up in our idle-day tests. The touchscreen is the same one used on the T210, so the menu structure is familiar.
Running cost is the main tradeoff. Starter cartridges ship not full, and replacement HP 712 cartridges are expensive per milliliter. HP’s firmware has also been known to block third-party cartridges after updates, so budget for OEM ink over a 3-year window. RAM is limited at 1 GB, which is fine for typical PDFs but tight on very large multilayer files.
Who should buy the T230
Hobbyists, students, and small studios that print a few posters a week and value portability. The 2-year onsite warranty makes it a smart choice for first-time wide format buyers.
When to spend more
If you print photo-heavy posters, the Canon TM-240 pigment set produces visibly better color. If you print every day in volume, the T210 ships with more starter ink and a faster print engine. The T230 is a budget machine, not a daily production machine.
How to Choose the Best Wide Format Printer for Your Posters
Choosing the best wide format printer for posters comes down to four questions: how big do you print, how often do you print, what media do you need, and how important is color accuracy. Answer those honestly and the rest of the spec sheet sorts itself out. Below is the framework our team uses when readers ask which printer fits their workflow.
Match the printer width to your poster size
Most poster work falls into three buckets. 13×19 (A3+/supertabloid) handles small posters, art prints, and event flyers. 24-inch (A1/Arch D) covers the most common retail and event poster size at 24×36. 36-inch covers banner and exhibition work plus full panoramic art. If you only print 24×36 posters, a 24-inch plotter saves floor space and money. If you ever print 36×48 or larger, step up to a 36-inch model.
Resolution and dpi requirements for posters
For a poster viewed from 3 to 6 feet, 300 dpi at the final output size is the standard. That means a 24×36 poster needs roughly 7,200 x 10,800 pixels in the image file. Every printer in our lineup supports 2400×1200 dpi, which exceeds that requirement. For posters viewed from across a room or printed on canvas, 150 dpi is acceptable, and you can comfortably print at 24×36 from a 12-megapixel camera file.
Pigment vs dye ink for poster longevity
Pigment ink sits on top of the paper and resists UV fade and water. Dye ink soaks into the paper and produces more vivid color but fades faster in sunlight. For posters meant to sell, gift, or display in a window, pigment ink (Canon TM series) is the safer choice. For indoor art prints that will be framed under glass, dye ink (HP DesignJet T-series) is fine and slightly more affordable.
Media compatibility: glossy, matte, canvas, vinyl
Wide format printers handle a wide media range when you feed them correctly. Glossy and satin photo papers produce the most vibrant color. Matte bond and presentation paper is the cheapest option for technical posters. Canvas and fine art papers need pigment ink for proper archival results. Vinyl and adhesive-backed stocks require specific ink sets. Every printer in this lineup supports glossy, matte, and bond media; check individual listings for canvas and vinyl compatibility.
Software ecosystem: HP Click vs Canon PPL vs Epson Print Layout
HP Click is the easiest for batch printing and PDF nesting. Canon Professional Print Layout (PPL) is the strongest for ICC profile management and soft proofing on photo workflows. Epson Print Layout is best for photographers using Epson printers. If your team is non-technical and prints PDFs all day, HP Click wins. If you are a photographer managing ICC profiles, Canon PPL wins.
Total cost of ownership over 3 years
The printer price is roughly 30 percent of what you will spend over 3 years. The rest is ink, paper, and maintenance. For a 24-inch HP plotter at moderate use, plan on a yearly ink spend that can exceed the printer cost. For a Canon pigment system with ink bottles, the ink-per-milliliter cost is lower. Before buying, multiply estimated monthly ink cost by 36 and add it to the printer price. That is your real number.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best printer for printing posters?
For most people the HP DesignJet T210 is the best balance of price, quality, and footprint. It prints sharp 24-inch rolls at 2400×1200 dpi, includes HP Click for batch poster jobs, and fits in a home office. Photographers who care about color should pick the Canon imagePROGRAF TM-240 instead, which uses a 5-color pigment ink set for richer color and longer-lasting prints.
What is the best large format printer for 24×36 prints?
The HP DesignJet T210 is our top pick for 24×36 prints because it handles 24-inch rolls natively and ships with the HP Click software that auto-nests multi-page PDFs. For color-critical work, the Canon imagePROGRAF TM-240 is the better choice thanks to its 5-color pigment ink set and built-in color calibration.
What type of printer do I need to print posters?
You need a wide format inkjet printer that supports at least 13-inch wide media for small formats and 24-inch wide media for standard poster sizes. Look for 2400×1200 dpi or higher resolution, support for roll paper, and pigment or dye ink depending on whether you need fade resistance or vibrant output.
How to print a 24×36 poster at home?
Start by designing or sizing your image to 7200×10800 pixels at 300 dpi for a high-quality print. Use a 24-inch wide format printer like the HP DesignJet T210, load a 24-inch roll of poster media, and send the file through the manufacturer’s software (HP Click, Canon PPL, or Epson Print Layout). For color accuracy, soft-proof with the correct ICC profile for your media before printing.
What resolution to print a 24×36 poster?
Print at 300 dpi for posters viewed from 3 to 6 feet, which requires a 7200×10800 pixel image for 24×36. For posters viewed from across a room or printed on canvas, 150 dpi is acceptable, which is roughly 3600×5400 pixels. All the printers in our lineup support 2400×1200 dpi, which exceeds both requirements comfortably.
Are wide format printers worth it?
Wide format printers are worth it once you print more than 10 to 15 posters a year. At that volume, the cost per print in-house is typically much lower than commercial print shops, and you gain full control over color, paper, and turnaround time. Below that volume, a commercial print shop or online poster service is usually more cost-effective.
Final Verdict: Our Top Pick for Best Wide Format Printers for Posters in 2026
After three months of side-by-side testing, the HP DesignJet T210 remains our top pick for the best wide format printer for posters. It hits the sweet spot between price, print quality, and footprint. The Canon imagePROGRAF TM-240 is the better choice for color-critical photo work, and the HP DesignJet T230 is the smart budget pick if you only print a few posters a month.
Whichever printer you choose, expect a learning curve on color management and media loading. Budget for an afternoon of setup and a few test prints before sending client work. Once dialed in, a wide format plotter pays for itself faster than almost any other piece of office equipment. For more printer roundups, see our label printer guide.