They are used by engineers, architects and map-makers to draw plans of buildings, diagrams of machines or large scale maps. They can also be used for many other similar tasks.

A plotter differs from a printer in that it draws images using a pen that can be lowered, raised and moved across the paper to form continuous lines. The electronically controlled pen is moved around the paper by computer controlled motors.

Advantages

• Drawings are of the same quality as if an expert drew them
• Larger sizes of paper can be used than most printers can manage

Disadvantages

• Plotters are slower than printers because each line is drawn separately
• They are often more expensive than printers
• They do not produce very high quality text printouts