This article explains how to print on both sides of a sheet (double-sided printing) using a Mac. To be able to have double-sided printing automatically, without manual user intervention, you need a printer compatible with this print mode. If you have a standard printer, without the accessory that allows printing on the front and back of a sheet, you can still achieve this by printing one page at a time and manually managing the printer's paper feed tray.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Use a Printer Equipped with a Duplex Printing Function
Step 1. Open the document you want to print
This can be a Word or Office document, a PDF, a web page, or any printable content.
Step 2. Click on the File menu
It is displayed in the upper left of the screen.
Step 3. Click on the Print option
Alternatively, press the key combination ⌘ Command + P.
Step 4. Click on the drop-down menu located below the orientation options
By default, the name of the app or program you are using will be displayed.
Step 5. Select the "Layout" item
It is one of the options listed in the drop-down menu that appeared.
Step 6. Click on the "Duplex" drop-down menu
It is displayed under the "Margin" menu.
If the "Duplex" drop-down menu is not selectable (appears gray), it means that the printer selected or connected to the Mac may not support this printing mode
Step 7. Select the "Long-edged binding" or "Short-edged binding" option
- The "Long-Edge Binding" option is the most frequently used. Choose this if you plan to bind the pages on one of the two longer sides. In this case you can decide to apply the binding along the right or left side if you have chosen to orient the pages vertically.
- Select the "Short Edge Binding" item if you have decided to bind the pages along the shorter side. In this case you will have to use the top or bottom side if you oriented the pages vertically or the right or left side if you oriented them horizontally.
Step 8. Click the Print button
At this point the document will be sent to the printer and printed on the front and back of the sheets.
Method 2 of 2: Use a Standard Printer
Step 1. Open the document you want to print
This can be a Word or Office document, a PDF, a web page, or any printable content.
Step 2. Click on the File menu
It is displayed in the upper left of the screen.
Step 3. Click on the Print option
Alternatively, press the key combination ⌘ Command + P.
Step 4. Click on the radio button "From:
" it's at:".
This way you can select the range of pages to print.
Step 5. In the text fields "From:
"and" To: "type the number of the first page of the document you wish to print.
For example, if you want to start printing from page number 1 of the document, type the value "1" in both fields under consideration.
Step 6. Click the Print button
This will only print the first page of the document.
Step 7. Now take the sheet that has just been printed, rotate it upside down and insert it back into the printer's paper feed tray
Normally you will just have to make sure that the printed side of the paper is facing down.
Step 8. Click on the File menu
It is displayed in the upper left of the screen.
Step 9. Click on the Print option
Step 10. Click on the radio button "From:
" it's at:".
This way you can select the range of pages to print.
Step 11. In the text fields "From:
"and" To: "type the number of the second page of the document you wish to print.
For example, if you want to start printing from page number 2 of the document, type the value "2" in both fields under consideration.
Step 12. Click the Print button
This way the second page will be printed on the back of the paper on which you printed the first. Repeat the above process to print as many other pages of the document as you need.
