What Ink Does the HP DesignJet Z6 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP DesignJet Z6 uses six HP 746 300 ml pigment ink cartridges — Photo Black, Matte Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Chromatic Red — printing through three universal HP 746 printheads (P2V25A). Castle Ink carries all six remanufactured: HP 746 Photo Black (P2V82A), HP 746 Matte Black (P2V83A), HP 746 Cyan (P2V80A), HP 746 Magenta (P2V78A), HP 746 Yellow (P2V79A) and HP 746 Chromatic Red (P2V81A), plus a 6-color combo pack.
CastleScore · October 2026
64/100 — Situational
HP DesignJet Z6
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | — | Not scored: HP rates 746 cartridges by ink volume, not page yield, so we cannot calculate an honest cost per page. |
| Reliability (13%) | 82 | Most-reported problems: HP 746 printheads reported failing; ink buildup in the service station reaching the wiper motor; 86-series system errors tied to carriage movement |
| Features (12%) | 44 | Ethernet. No document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, no fax, no touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | — | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough owner ratings or published expert scores for this printer, so those weights are spread across the other pillars.
Availability unclear. We couldn't confirm whether HP still sells the Z6 new, and some retailers no longer list the Z6dr.
CastleScore is Castle Ink’s own editorial rating, built from retailer star ratings, expert reviews, real cost per page and owner complaint patterns, checked October 11, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
HP 746 Photo Black 300 mlP2V82A
HP 746 Matte Black 300 mlP2V83A
HP 746 Cyan 300 mlP2V80A
HP 746 Magenta 300 mlP2V78A
HP 746 Yellow 300 mlP2V79A
HP 746 Chromatic Red 300 mlP2V81A
HP 746 Photo Black 300 ml
HP 746 Matte Black 300 ml
HP 746 Cyan 300 ml
HP 746 Magenta 300 ml
HP 746 Yellow 300 ml
HP 746 Chromatic Red 300 mlOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
HP DesignJet Z6 Ink Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge (Castle Ink link) | Part No. | Size |
|---|---|---|
| HP 746 Photo Black | P2V82A | 300 ml |
| HP 746 Matte Black | P2V83A | 300 ml |
| HP 746 Cyan | P2V80A | 300 ml |
| HP 746 Magenta | P2V78A | 300 ml |
| HP 746 Yellow | P2V79A | 300 ml |
| HP 746 Chromatic Red | P2V81A | 300 ml |
| HP 746 6-Color Combo Pack | All six colors | 6 × 300 ml |
The Z6 is HP's six-ink PostScript printer for posters, maps, renderings and photo-quality graphics. It comes as the Z6 24-in, the Z6 44-in and the Z6dr 44-in, which adds a second roll and an integrated vertical trimmer. HP rates it at up to 866 sq ft per hour on plain media in Fast mode for the 44-in models, and 720 sq ft per hour for the 24-in model.
The two blacks do different jobs. Matte Black gives deep, sharp blacks on plain, bond and matte papers, so it empties fastest in a drawings-and-posters workload. Photo Black is used on glossy and satin photo papers. Chromatic Red widens the reds, oranges and skin tones beyond what cyan, magenta and yellow can reach on their own.
Z6 vs. Z9+: Same Base Ink
The DesignJet Z9+ uses the same six HP 746 cartridges and the same P2V25A printhead, and adds three HP 747 colors (Chromatic Green, Chromatic Blue and Gray) plus an optional Gloss Enhancer. It takes five printheads instead of three. If you run both printers, one stock of HP 746 covers the shared colors — see our HP DesignJet Z9+ ink guide. The Z6 does not use HP 747 cartridges.
How to Replace Ink in the HP DesignJet Z6
- On the front panel, open the ink menu and choose to replace a cartridge, or wait for the empty-cartridge prompt.
- Open the ink cartridge cover.
- Pull the empty cartridge straight out of its slot.
- Shake the new cartridge gently, then push it into the slot that matches its color label until it locks.
- Close the cover and wait for the front panel to confirm the cartridge.
Troubleshooting Tips
Cartridge not recognized or "non-HP cartridge" message: Reseat the cartridge firmly and check that its chip contacts are clean and undamaged.
Banding or missing nozzles: Print the printhead status plot and run printhead cleaning from the front panel. The three HP 746 printheads are universal, so if one is failing you replace that printhead (P2V25A), not the ink.
Colors look off after a cartridge change: Run printhead alignment and color calibration for the paper you print on most, then reprint.
What DesignJet Z6 owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, HP's support forum and owner reviews, answered in our words.
How many printheads does the Z6 use, and are they color-specific?
It uses three HP 746 printheads (P2V25A). HP calls them universal, so the same part number fits every slot.
Is it faster than the older Z2600 and Z5600?
HP's 2019 brochure claims up to 20% faster printing than the Z2600 and Z5600, based on HP's own testing.
Can I print straight from a USB stick?
Yes. It has a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port for printing directly from a flash drive, plus Gigabit Ethernet.
What does a 0086 system error mean?
86-series errors usually relate to carriage movement. In one HP Community case, the suggested causes were an unlatched printhead cover and a faulty cartridge-tray data cable.
DesignJet Z6 quirks worth knowing
- The inks don't all fire the same drops: Magenta, Cyan and Photo Black use 7/3 pl dual drops, while Yellow, Chromatic Red and Matte Black use a single 6 pl drop.
- Each printhead has 2,112 nozzles per color, or 12,672 nozzles across the three heads.
- It has a 500 GB self-encrypting hard drive and 128 GB of virtual memory.
- HP sells TAA-compliant versions: T8W15B (24-in, single roll) and T8W18B (Z6dr, dual roll). The standard models are T8W15A (24-in), T8W16A (44-in) and T8W18A (Z6dr 44-in).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ink cartridges does the HP DesignJet Z6 use?
Six HP 746 cartridges: Photo Black, Matte Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Chromatic Red.
Does the Z6 use HP 747?
No. HP 747 colors are only for the DesignJet Z9+.
Do the Z6 24-in, Z6 44-in and Z6dr use the same ink?
Yes. Every Z6 model takes the same six HP 746 300 ml cartridges.
Does using remanufactured cartridges void my warranty?
No. Under the U.S. Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a manufacturer cannot void your printer warranty only because you used third-party cartridges. Damage proven to be caused by a specific cartridge would not be covered, but the rest of the warranty still applies. Service contracts (HP Care Packs) can carry their own terms, so check yours.
Other printers that use HP 746 ink
More HP ink guides: HP OfficeJet 3830 · HP Envy 5000 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 · find any printer
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 11, 2026 and will change over time.
- HP DesignJet Z6 44-in datasheet (HP, via UC Berkeley)
- HP DesignJet Z6 44-in brochure (HP, via DiCarlo)
- HP DesignJet Z6 technical specifications (HP, via Praxi)
- HP DesignJet Z9+ datasheet (HP, via Inkstation)
- HP DesignJet repair and maintenance, 0086 errors (HP Support Community)
- DesignJet Z9 printhead discussion (CopyTechNet)
Need replacement HP ink cartridges? Shop HP ink cartridges at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.