Duplex, or double-sided printing, is a cost-efficient method of producing hard copies of documents. Whether you're using office printers or a simple, no-frills printer at home, there are many ways to ensure that you don't waste paper or energy. Joyce Dickerson, director of sustainable IT at Stanford University, points out that printing and photocopying both sides of paper can save up to 75 percent of printing costs, a statistic that reinforces the ecological sense in conserving paper and energy.
Programmable Printers
Step
Check that you have paper in the feeder tray and it is correctly aligned. Check the document on-screen for blank pages and any other layout anomalies that might affect the final appearance. Click "File" and scroll down to "Print Preview" to check the appearance and layout in print view. Exit "Print Preview" by following the manufacturer's instructions.
Step
Press "Control" and "P" to bring up the printing menu, or go to "File" and scroll down to "Print." Read your manufacturer's user manual or operating instructions to check how to program your printer to print double-sided sheets. The option is usually on the print menu. You might need to click "Advanced Options," depending on the make and model.
Step
Click the selection button for double-sided printing and any other printing or orientation requirements. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to complete the "Print" command. Usually this means clicking "OK" on a printer menu once you have made your selections.
Step
Check the first page of the printed document to ensure printing appears on both sides and the document is correctly oriented and properly aligned. Doing so ensures that you don't waste a great deal of paper and energy on a wrongly printed print job.
Non-Duplex Printers
Step
Check the direction and orientation of print on your printer by marking a small X in pencil on one narrow edge of a sheet of paper. Insert the paper into the feeding tray of your printer, according to the manufacturer's instructions, with the X at the top and facing you.
Step
Press "Control" and "P" or go to "File" and then "Print." Select "Current Page." Print one sheet using the marked piece of paper. Notice which way round the printed copy appears and where the pencil X is in relation to the text. Use this information to work out how to insert the printed sheet to print the other side and ensure that printing on both sides of the paper is oriented the same and not upside down.
Step
Insert your printed sheet in the feeder again in the direction that prints on the reverse of the sheet in the correct orientation. Write down, for future reference, which way to insert paper when printing both sides to prevent errors and wasted paper down the road.
Step
Click "Control" and "P" again, or go to "File" and "Print." Select the page print option that enables you to print all the even-numbered or odd-numbered sheets and print them.
Step
Turn the printed sheets over and reinsert them into the feeder in the correct orientation. Access the print command again and select the opposite command for odd- or even-numbered sheets. Print that batch. The result should be a multi-page document printed on both sides.
