Many businesses can get by sending their occasional oversized print jobs to a copy shop. However, if you often print blueprints, banners, or other documents over two feet wide, investing in a wide-format printer or plotter can be a good choice. These machines can print in color or black and white, on a wide range of materials, in widths of 24" to 60" or more.

There are two main markets for wide-format printers and plotters. The first, the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) market, has long been buying plotters for blueprints and other technical documents.

More recently, print and design shops have begun investing in wide-format printers to create large-scale banners,signs, and other outdoor durable graphics or textiles without turning to a printing press. Educational institutions, advertising agencies, and even large retail stores are among the organizations that need such printouts.

This BuyerZone Plotters Buyer's Guide will give you the inside scoop on the basics of choosing a wide-format printer, what features to look for, and how much you can expect to pay.