New HP DesignJet Z6 and Z9+ Plus Edition Printers: What Changed?

HP has introduced a refreshed family of professional graphics printers with the new HP DesignJet Z6 and Z9+ Plus Edition printers. These models replace the previous Z6 and Z9+ configurations while preserving the print-quality technologies that made the original series successful.

The Plus Edition is best understood as a focused productivity, workflow and security update. It is not an entirely new ink or printhead platform. Instead, HP has added faster production options and current workflow tools while continuing to offer 24-inch, 44-inch, single-roll and dual-roll configurations.

What Are the HP DesignJet Z-Series Plus Printers?

The HP DesignJet Z-Series sits between standard technical plotters and higher-volume production printers. These printers are designed for customers who need more color capability, media flexibility and image quality than a conventional four-color CAD printer can provide.

Common applications include posters, maps, orthophotos, presentation graphics, retail displays, event graphics, photography and fine art reproduction. Both families use pigment-based HP Vivid Photo Inks for durable, professional output across photographic, coated, fine art, self-adhesive, banner, backlit and other compatible media.

The new Plus Edition lineup includes six configurations:

• HP DesignJet Z6 Plus 24-inch single-roll printer
• HP DesignJet Z6 Plus 44-inch single-roll printer
• HP DesignJet Z6dr Plus 44-inch dual-roll printer with V-Trimmer
• HP DesignJet Z9+ Plus 24-inch single-roll printer
• HP DesignJet Z9+ Plus 44-inch single-roll printer
• HP DesignJet Z9+dr Plus 44-inch dual-roll printer with V-Trimmer

What Changed With the Plus Edition?

New Productivity Print Modes

The most significant Plus Edition upgrade is the addition of Plain for Production and Coated for Production print modes. These modes give users another way to balance image quality and production speed based on the media and application.

HP promotes printing-time reductions of up to 90 percent in Productivity mode. However, that figure comes from HP testing conducted in March 2026 on the HP DesignJet Z9+ 44-inch Plus Edition. HP compared a Productivity mode with the standard Best mode on coated paper. Actual results will depend on the printer, media, selected quality mode and print job.

A more direct comparison can be found in HP’s published Normal-mode specifications for coated media. Compared with the previous models, the Plus Edition specifications show an increase of approximately 30 percent across the Z6 and Z9+ families.

Speed note: Published speeds represent mechanical printing time under specific HP test conditions. File complexity, media, print settings, network conditions and other factors can affect actual production speed.

Current HP Click Workflow

HP Click is not entirely new to the Z-Series. Nevertheless, HP is emphasizing its current HP Click Print Solutions as an important part of the Plus Edition workflow. The HP Click App supports Windows and Mac, while the HP Click Driver is designed for Windows 11.

Real-print preview and automatic error detection help operators identify layout or media problems before sending a job. As a result, users may avoid incorrect page sizes, unnecessary reprints and wasted media. The printers also support Adobe PostScript 3, Adobe PDF 1.7 and the Adobe PDF Print Engine for processing complex graphics files.

HP Wolf Pro Security

The previous Z6 and Z9+ printers already included several professional security features. The Plus Edition brings those capabilities under HP’s current HP Wolf Pro Security positioning.

Available protections include HP Secure Boot, allowlisting, role-based access control, certificate management, network security controls, PIN printing and self-encrypting internal storage. These features are particularly relevant for businesses, government agencies, educational institutions and other organizations that may print sensitive documents.

A Familiar Ink and Printhead Platform

HP retained the established Z-Series imaging platform. Both printer families offer up to 2400 x 1200 optimized dpi, high-definition printheads, dual-drop technology and 300 ml ink cartridges. They also include 128 GB of virtual memory and 500 GB of self-encrypting internal storage.

This continuity is useful for organizations already familiar with the Z6 or Z9+ workflow. The Plus Edition does not require customers to learn a completely different printing technology simply because the product numbers changed.

HP DesignJet Z6 Plus vs. Z9+ Plus

HP DesignJet Z6 Plus: Versatile Graphics With Six Inks

The HP DesignJet Z6 Plus uses six pigment-based inks: cyan, magenta, yellow, matte black, photo black and chromatic red. HP Pixel Control and dual-drop printhead technology help produce smooth gradients and fine details without requiring separate light ink colors.

The Z6 Plus is a strong fit for organizations producing a varied mix of graphics. Common applications include:

• Posters and promotional graphics
• Retail and point-of-purchase displays
• GIS maps and orthophotos
• Technical drawings with color layers
• Presentation graphics and event signage
• Indoor displays and selected photographic applications

Because the Z6 uses six inks instead of nine, it may also be the more practical choice when production versatility and operating simplicity matter more than advanced photographic color control.

HP DesignJet Z9+ Plus: Professional Photo and Fine Art Output

The HP DesignJet Z9+ Plus expands the ink system to nine pigment-based colors. In addition to the core Z6 colors, it uses chromatic green, chromatic blue and gray. This expanded set supports a wider color gamut, smooth tonal transitions and more precise photographic reproduction.

An embedded X-Rite i1 spectrophotometer provides automatic color calibration. Therefore, the Z9+ is better equipped for applications where repeatable color matters across multiple jobs, media types or production dates.

The Z9+ also supports an optional HP Gloss Enhancer. On compatible gloss and satin photo papers, Gloss Enhancer can improve gloss uniformity and reduce visible differences between inked and lightly inked areas. It is not intended for matte-finish media.

Typical Z9+ applications include:

• Professional photography
• Fine art and canvas reproduction
• Gallery and exhibition graphics
• Premium retail displays
• Color-critical posters and presentation graphics
• Photo, proofing and design studio production

HP DesignJet Plus Edition Model Comparison

Single Roll or Dual Roll With V-Trimmer?

The 24-inch and standard 44-inch models use one roll at a time. They include a rear sheet feed, media output bin and automatic horizontal cutter. These models make sense when one primary media type remains loaded for most daily work.

By comparison, the 44-inch dr models include two automatic roll feeds, smart roll switching and a top sheet feed. An operator can keep two different media types or widths loaded, reducing the need to stop and exchange rolls between jobs.

The Z6dr and Z9+dr also include an integrated vertical trimmer. The printer can cut both the length and width of compatible output, including most HP Z-Series qualified canvas. This feature can reduce manual trimming when producing posters, photographs, maps and other graphics at finished sizes narrower than the loaded roll.

Only the 44-inch dual-roll Z6dr and Z9+dr models include the vertical trimmer. The 24-inch and 44-inch single-roll models include an automatic horizontal cutter but not the V-Trimmer.

When Does Upgrading to a Plus Edition Make Sense?

For organizations already using a Z6 or Z9+ printer, the Plus Edition builds on a proven image-quality platform while adding practical improvements in production speed, workflow and security. An upgrade can be especially valuable when faster coated-media printing, current HP Wolf Pro Security, updated HP Click tools or additional media-handling automation would improve daily operations.

The decision involves more than comparing print resolution. Improved productivity can reduce operator time, shorten turnaround and make it easier to manage a growing mix of applications. A Plus Edition upgrade may be worth considering when:

• Coated-paper jobs create a regular production bottleneck
• The organization needs current HP Wolf Pro Security capabilities
• Operators would benefit from updated HP Click workflows
• A single-roll printer requires frequent manual media changes
• Manual trimming consumes significant finishing time
• The existing printer is becoming less reliable or more expensive to maintain
• A wider 44-inch printing capability would expand available applications

For a new purchase or planned equipment replacement, the Plus Edition models are now the current successors to the discontinued A-series configurations. Customers searching for T8W15A, T8W16A, T8W18A, W3Z71A, W3Z72A or X9D24A should evaluate the corresponding D-series Plus Edition model.

For a new purchase, the Plus Edition models are now the current replacements for the discontinued A-series configurations. Customers searching for T8W15A, T8W16A, T8W18A, W3Z71A, W3Z72A or X9D24A should evaluate the corresponding D-series Plus Edition model.

Choosing the Right HP DesignJet Z-Series Plus Printer

The best model depends on the work being produced rather than simply choosing the printer with the largest ink set.

For maps, technical graphics, posters, displays and general-purpose graphics, the six-color HP DesignJet Z6 Plus offers an effective combination of speed, detail and media versatility. Meanwhile, photographers, artists and color-critical graphics producers will benefit more from the expanded gamut and embedded spectrophotometer of the nine-color HP DesignJet Z9+ Plus.

A 24-inch model provides professional Z-Series output in a smaller footprint. A 44-inch printer expands the available range of posters, displays, photographs and graphics. Finally, the dual-roll V-Trimmer models provide the greatest workflow automation for organizations producing a steady mix of media and finished sizes.

Product specifications and availability are subject to change. Productivity results vary by printer configuration, media type, print mode, file complexity and job characteristics.