How Do I: Print Double Sided?

Double-sided printing (sometimes called duplex printing) helps preserve paper and minimize waste.  The public computer labs do not have this option enabled by default though, as doublesided printing is not always desirable (depending on the type of document being printed).  Here are the ways to enable doublesided printing on the most used programs on Windows and OS X:

Note: Printing on both sides of the page in the Library will still result in a two-page charge.  That cost relates to each side of a page being printed, regardless if it's one sheet or two sheets.

Windows

Office 2010 (specifically Word and Excel)

Regardless of whether you're printing a portrait or landscape oriented document, the option for Print on Both Sides in Office 2010 is easier to find than in previous versions of Office.

Acrobat Professional XI

Similarly, Adobe keeps the Print on both side of paper option at the front of its' print dialog.  For portrait oriented pages you will want to keep the default Flip on long edge option, but for landscape prints you will want to select Flip on short edge.

Apple OS X

Office 2011 (specifically Word and Excel)

In Office 2011 the option is buried much deeper than in its' Windows cousin.  You have to click on the Layout drop down option then find Two-Sided.  In this case Long-Edge Binding would be for portrait oriented prints and Short-Edge Binding would be for landscape oriented prints.  The Office 2011 print dialog uses the default Apple print dialog, so this may also apply to other text programs like TextEdit, TextWrangler, et al.

Acrobat Professional XI

Adobe has kept this window very similar to Acrobat Professional on Windows.  Just look for Print on both sides of the paper to enable double-sided printing.  This almost certainly relates to earlier versions of Acrobat Professional in OS X, but please let us know if this option dos not appear for you.

If you are having trouble finding out how to print double sided please do let us know and we'll be happy to help!