What Ink Does the HP DesignJet Z9+ Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The HP DesignJet Z9+ uses nine 300 ml pigment inks from two HP families. HP 746 supplies Photo Black, Matte Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Chromatic Red. HP 747 supplies the three extra colors that set the Z9+ apart — Chromatic Green, Chromatic Blue and Gray — plus the optional HP 747 Gloss Enhancer. Castle Ink carries all ten cartridges remanufactured — the six HP 746 colors (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)) and the four HP 747 cartridges: HP 747 Chromatic Green (P2V84A), HP 747 Chromatic Blue (P2V85A), HP 747 Gray (P2V86A) and HP 747 Gloss Enhancer (P2V87A).
CastleScore · October 2026
64/100 — Situational
HP DesignJet Z9+
| 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%) | 83 | Most-reported problems: HP 746 printheads failing; ink buildup in the service station reaching the wiper motor, described by a technician as a common Z9 problem; printhead replacement routine not completing on DesignJet Z-series units |
| 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.
Status not confirmed. We could not confirm whether HP still sells the Z9+ new. HP 746 and HP 747 ink is still sold.
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 Z9+ Ink Cartridges at a Glance
| Color | Family | Part No. | Size | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP 747 Chromatic Green | HP 747 | P2V84A | 300 ml | Castle Ink (remanufactured) |
| HP 747 Chromatic Blue | HP 747 | P2V85A | 300 ml | Castle Ink (remanufactured) |
| HP 747 Gray | HP 747 | P2V86A | 300 ml | Castle Ink (remanufactured) |
| HP 747 Gloss Enhancer | HP 747 | P2V87A | 300 ml | Castle Ink (remanufactured) |
| HP 746 Photo Black | HP 746 | P2V82A | 300 ml | Castle Ink (remanufactured) |
| HP 746 Matte Black | HP 746 | P2V83A | 300 ml | Castle Ink (remanufactured) |
| HP 746 Cyan | HP 746 | P2V80A | 300 ml | Castle Ink (remanufactured) |
| HP 746 Magenta | HP 746 | P2V78A | 300 ml | Castle Ink (remanufactured) |
| HP 746 Yellow | HP 746 | P2V79A | 300 ml | Castle Ink (remanufactured) |
| HP 746 Chromatic Red | HP 746 | P2V81A | 300 ml | Castle Ink (remanufactured) |
The Z9+ is HP's 24-inch and 44-inch photo and fine-art printer, sold in 24-inch and 44-inch PostScript versions and as the 44-inch Z9+dr, which adds a second roll and an integrated vertical trimmer. Its nine-ink set and five universal printheads give it a wider color range than the six-ink DesignJet Z6, which uses only HP 746.
The HP 747 colors are what make the Z9+ different: Chromatic Green and Chromatic Blue widen the color gamut for saturated photos and artwork, and Gray smooths neutral tones and black-and-white prints. The Gloss Enhancer is a clear coat for glossy media — it evens out gloss differences between inked and blank areas of a print.
How to Replace Ink in the HP DesignJet Z9+
- 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: Pull the cartridge out and reseat it firmly, and check that it is in the slot that matches its color label.
Color shift after a cartridge change: Run color calibration with the built-in spectrophotometer for the paper you print on most, then reprint.
Banding or missing nozzles: Print the printhead status plot and run printhead cleaning from the front panel. Persistent gaps after cleaning point to one of the five HP 746 printheads (P2V25A) needing replacement.
What DesignJet Z9+ 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.
Do I need the Gloss Enhancer, and does it work on every paper?
It is optional. HP sold it as an upgrade kit (2QX55A) that arrived in the second half of 2018. HP says it works on photo papers but not on matte-finish papers.
Does every Z9+ have the built-in spectrophotometer?
Yes. HP's datasheet says an X-Rite i1 spectrophotometer is built into the whole Z9+ series.
How many printheads does it take?
Five universal HP 746 printheads, part P2V25A. The DesignJet Z6 uses the same head.
How much faster is it than the Z3200 it followed?
HP says up to 2.5 times faster. HP rates the 44-inch model's top speed at 71.4 m²/hr (769 ft²/hr) in Fast mode.
A service print looks wrong after I changed a printhead. What should I check first?
Technicians on a repair forum suggest rerunning printhead alignment on plain bond paper, checking the encoder strip for dirt and ruling out air in the ink tubes before replacing more parts.
DesignJet Z9+ quirks worth knowing
- There are three versions: the Z9+ 24-in (W3Z71A), the Z9+ 44-in (W3Z72A) and the Z9+dr 44-in (X9D24A), which adds a second roll and a vertical trimmer. All three take the same ink.
- HP splits drop sizes by color: magenta, cyan, photo black, chromatic blue and gray fire 7 and 3 pl dual drops, while yellow, chromatic red, matte black and chromatic green use a single 6 pl drop.
- A newer Asia-Pacific HP datasheet lists HP 746B part numbers (3WX35A to 3WX38A) for photo black, cyan, magenta and yellow. In the U.S. the P2V numbers in the table above are the ones to order.
- A technician on a repair forum calls ink buildup in the service station, which can reach the wiper motor, a common Z9 problem. The same thread reports new printheads failing, sometimes in pairs after one head was replaced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Z9+ use HP 746 or HP 747?
Both. HP 746 covers six colors and HP 747 covers Chromatic Green, Chromatic Blue, Gray and the Gloss Enhancer.
Does the DesignJet Z6 use HP 747?
No. The six-ink Z6 uses HP 746 only — see our HP DesignJet Z6 ink guide. The extra HP 747 colors are a Z9+ feature.
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.
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.