Open to all College of Built Environments students, Archnet is a design technology services group within the College whose mission is to resource the CBE community with tools and services that reduce project barriers in creativity, size, or lack of experience using specialized equipment.
Archnet provides technology and design studio computing resources, supporting Windows and Mac OS design studio workstations, personal computers, design applications, scanners, printers, and plotters to the CBE community. Our team is here to support students in leveraging these resources for design studio work, competition or research posters, or if they need some more creative freedom in any printing project.
Archnet student employees are a great resource for you if you need help with or are wanting to learn more about:
- Best practices for printing in Archnet
- Connecting your laptop to Archnet printers
- Troubleshooting printing problems
- InDesign accessibility
- Adobe Acrobat accessibility
The Archnet help desk, printers, and plotters are located in Architecture Hall, room G51. For a more detailed listing of the equipment available in Archnet please expand the Archnet Resources section below.
Archnet resources
3 iMacs setup with Windows 10 and Mac OS X
3 Windows PCs setup with Windows 10
Scanners: standard letter, tabloid (11×17)
Printers: black & white laserjet; color laserjet; Both provide two-sided
printing(duplex) on both letter and tabloid(11×17) paper
Plotters: 1 loaded with 36-inch wide coated paper, 1 loaded with 42-inch semi-gloss photo paper, and 1 loaded with both 42-inch heavy matte paper and 36-inch backlit film
Archnet staff also support the following equipment in the Arch Hall design studios:
1 iMac per studio setup with Windows 10 and Mac OS X (11 total)
1 Windows PC per studio setup with Windows 10 (11 total)
1 scanner per studio either tabloid or letter size
4 in-studio printers – black & white letter printing only, duplex available
File storage policies
Files stored directly on Architecture Hall computers can be deleted at any time. Architecture Hall computers are only for temporary storage of files that are backed up in another location. Back-up files to personal disks, CDs, DVDs, jump drives, your U-drive, cloud storage, or other long-term archive media for safe storage. You are responsible for keeping copies of your work.
How to print
For detailed instructions on printing from within specific programs, please review the guides listed below. We recommend that AutoCAD or GIS files be converted into PDF for printing.
Plotting from Acrobat on a Mac
Plotting from Acrobat on a PC
Plotting from InDesign on a Mac
Plotting from InDesign on a PC
Laptop printing
Personal computers can be set up to print to the Archnet printers and plotters. To do so you will need a current Archnet account, and have access to a local Administrators account on the computer you wish to install the devices on. Instructions for the supported operating systems are linked below.
Laptop Printing – Windows
Laptop Printing – MacOS
HP Printer Drivers for the Mac can be downloaded from https://support.apple.com/kb/dl1888. You may also find https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers useful.
OSX users running the newest version, Big Sur, should follow the instructions available at https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printers-Knowledge-Base/Having-problems-installing-older-HP-Printers-on-later-macOS/ta-p/7946104 in order to download and install the printer drivers you will need.
Printing cost
Note that duplex printing offers a 10% discount per page.
| Printer Types and Cost | ||||
| Queue Name | Printer Model | Page Size | Media | Cost per Page |
| BW Laserjet | HP LaserJet 5200 dtn PostScript | 8.5″ x 11″
Letter |
100 % recycled color copy | $0.10 |
| 11″ x 17″
Tabloid |
100 % recycled color copy | $0.18 | ||
| Color Laserjet | HP Color LaserJet M750 | 8.5″ x 11″
Letter |
100 % recycled color copy | $0.75 |
| 11″ x 17″
Tabloid |
100 % recycled color copy | $1.50 | ||
| Plotter Types and Cost | ||||
| Queue Name | Plotter Model | Plot Width | Media | Cost per Plot |
| MATTE 42 WIDE | HP DesignJet T7100ps | Max 42″ | coated heavyweight matte | $14.00 |
| Max 36″ | mylar* | $14.00 | ||
| GLOSSY 42 WIDE | HP DesignJet T1120ps 44″ | Max 42″ | semi-gloss photopaper | $14.00 |
| FAST 36 WIDE | HP DesignJet T7100ps | Max 36″ | coated matte | $6.00 |
*When using mylar (backlit film) always consult with Archnet staff before sending your job order to print.
Paying for printing
Before printing in Archnet transfer funds to a printing balance linked to your NetID. You can add to this balance by bringing your Husky Card to the Archnet Office in Architecture Hall G051 during our listed hours of operation and transferring money from your Husky Card Account to your Archnet printing balance. All printing charges are then debited from this balance which rolls over between quarters.
You may obtain a refund of any unused money on your Archnet account to your Husky Card Account during Finals week or breaks between quarters. Ask Archnet staff for more details.
Archnet helpdesk hours
The Archnet computer lab is available 24/7 to CBE faculty, staff and matriculating students in a CBE degree program and is accessible with your Husky Card.
Please see your department administrator if your Husky Card does not work to confirm your eligibility.
Times listed as ‘busy’ in the calendar are when a Archnet consultant is available to help. For support during other hours, please make an appointment by emailing us at archnet@uw.edu.