Many inexperienced users wonder what duplex is in a printer. This term refers to automatic two-sided printing. Some printers have a function that notifies the user that sheets of paper need to be turned over, after which printing resumes. The output also produces a document with text on both sides, but such a device cannot be called duplex.
However, these are nonetheless relatively simple devices for occasional household use, but are not suitable for continuous use in a large office. Powerful and fast business devices and duplex printers are also being promoted into a much higher price class and are available from around €400, as well as a multifunction device.
In any case, it's worth comparing prices to save value duplex printing. In general, you should accurately calculate the operating costs when purchasing a printer. It has long been known that printer manufacturers themselves offer devices at almost the cost of production, but then the cost of entertainment and consumption is much higher. Especially if the printer is used frequently later, the increased operating costs will quickly increase the profitable purchase costs. Especially in the high-price segment, it would thus be possible to satisfy basic version and, if necessary, retrofit with a duplex unit.
Peculiarities
It should be noted right away that in terms of operation, printers that provide printing on both sides are no different from conventional ones. They are equipped with an additional module that allows you to slightly redirect a sheet of paper so that printing is carried out on its second side.
Until recently, such an addition took up a lot of space and made the printer more bulky. However, in the latest models, the duplex module is placed inside the case. Thus, it is impossible to purely visually distinguish a printer with double-sided printing from a model without this feature.
In the case of a multifunction device, the duplex function must also be applied to the scan and copy function, i.e. the templates should automatically retract from both sides. Duplex printing can be useful function printer or duplex printer when printing requirements are met. Especially with low-cost models, this feature often comes at a premium in terms of time and operating costs.
When purchasing a printer - be it a multifunction printer or a simple photo printer - the property is always advertised by the manufacturers. This is called duplex printing, which is also known as two-sided printing. Duplex printing has some advantages in direct comparison with regular seal, but it can also have disadvantages. The following guide shows which of the best ways compensate for shortcomings.
Advantages
Duplex printing can be useful in a variety of situations. Imagine you need to print a large document. If you use a conventional printer, you are forced to print even pages first, then manually turn the paper over and start printing again, but this time on odd pages. This approach requires more time from you. Plus, there is a risk that you will place the stack of paper incorrectly, and then the second side will be printed upside down.
Definition for duplex printing
Nowadays, users have a different definition of the concept of duplex printing than it was a few years ago. Originally, duplex printing is understood as a printing process in which two-step printing is performed. The image will then be printed in gray tones in the first stage until colors are added in the second stage. Therefore, the contrast of printed images must be increased.
However, this definition of duplex printing was hardly used. Duplex printing is always used when papers are printed on both sides. Both sides can be printed manually or automatically. If duplex printing is done manually, the user must discard the paper after the first print and insert it correctly so that the back side can be printed.
If you use a duplex printer, there will be no such problems. The user just needs to send the required range of pages for printing, but specify in the settings that this should be done using duplex. Further all work is carried out automatically. At this time, the user can begin performing other tasks.
An automatic printer can do this process on its own by pulling paper from multiple rolls and printing on both sides at the same time. If a trade asks for a printer that supports duplex printing, buyers should look for the "duplex" or "duplexer" designation. If one of these two names is present, duplex printing may be performed automatically by the product.
Arguments for duplex printing
Duplex printing has some obvious advantages. The pressure option is unbeatable, especially in the area of paper saving. You can print documents on both sides and therefore have 50% savings compared to conventional printing. Especially in the business field, this type of duplex printing can be extremely useful. However, it should be said that a duplexer usually has higher acquisition costs than if the printer were purchased in normal mode. Can the duplex printer be measured in the private sector?
What is duplex in a printer or MFP? This is a printer printing method in which the image is printed on both sides, without human intervention. And the output is a sheet printed on both sides. A duplex printer is not considered to be one that displays the message “now go to the printer and turn over the sheet” on the screen. When should you use duplex printing? When you have large volumes of printing and they need to be double-sided. Printer duplex occurs in both laser and inkjet printers, for home and office printers. When refilling cartridges, such a printer is no different from those printers that do not have a double-sided printing function.
Basically this question is not easy to answer. Duplex printing always makes sense if the printing volume can be described as medium volume and great importance can be given to the comfortable use of the printer. If documents are printed on both sides only a few times a month, manual duplex printing can also be used in a private area - no duplexer required. However, a duplex printer always offers time savings!
Duplex printing is required when documents need to be bound. Especially when designing booklets or small books, duplex printing is an indispensable tool for implementation. In this case, however, the settings must be precisely matched to the printer so that no paper is replaced or misaligned on the paper.
How it works in laser printers:
In fact, the function of the duplex is not to turn the sheet over, but to send the sheet through a different path through the printer, so the sheet again goes through the photo drum where the toner in the form of an image was previously magnetized, it is remagnetized onto the sheet, and all this passes through the oven. In it, the toner is burned to the paper. For this very reason, paper comes out of a laser printer warm. And even hot. And on the sheet, after going through a double path (there and back), there is printing on both sides.
Negative properties in duplex printing
In addition to the obvious advantages of duplex printing, duplex printing also has some disadvantages in detail. What's important is the purchase price, which can be quite high when using a high-quality duplex printer.
Especially when users are concerned about the time-saving argument, high-quality printers should be purchased from reputable manufacturers who have two printing units. If two printers are used, both sides can be printed simultaneously. If this mode is not available, papers must be fed and printed twice when printing on both sides. An inkjet printer takes longer to print than a laser printer. This is because with duplex printing, the first side of the print must first dry before the back side can be printed.
How to choose a duplex printer?
Here you need to decide in what volumes you print and how often. If you print at least 2 times a week it will suit you jet printer, they are relatively cheap color print. If you need to print often, I advise you to buy a laser printer, it is easier to maintain, refilling them is inexpensive, Consumables there is no shortage of printers; there are many specialists in printer maintenance and repair.
This wait time is not required for a laser printer. However, documents must also be sent to the printing house twice. With a second printing device, both sides can be printed at the same time, which in turn greatly increases the purchase price.
Photos with a double-sided printer?
In general, double-sided printers are very popular for simple text applications. A high-quality double-sided printer can also be used for brochure layout. What if the printer needs to print high-quality photos on both sides? A double-sided photo printer is theoretically possible, but most devices on the market don't offer any kind of limitless pressure. Practice shows, however, that only high-quality photographs photographers like to print borderless, so they have a better effect.
Which brand of laser b/w duplex printer should I buy?
There are several nuances in choosing monochrome duplex printers, which we will now consider. The most popular laser printers are Samsung, HP, Xerox, Canon, Panasonic, Brother. I would like to highlight a few of them:
Samsung- printers High Quality, but often to refill cartridges you need to flash the printer. Printers are often cheaper than their competitors, but the cost of updating the printer firmware will be less. This is a one-time procedure and will not cause any trouble in the future. At the time of writing this article, my attention was attracted by the Samsung SL-M2870FW (with a scanner) - the cost in popular stores is approximately 3300 UAH, and the Samsung SL-M2620D without a scanner - 1500 UAH.
Manual and automatic duplex printing
This is not a problem with a duplex printer. As already mentioned, manufacturers offer manual and automatic duplex printing. For automatic two-sided printing, you only need to select the appropriate option in the printer menu, and all documents will be printed in the desired format.
However, with manual duplex printing there are also differences, as practice shows. For example, older printers that do not have a duplex function and newer models that actively support manual duplex printing. If there is no support, the user must figure out how to load paper into the paper tray so that the document prints on both sides of the page. No help from the manufacturer.
Canon - I also consider them high quality printers. They definitely deserve your attention - Canon does not need to be flashed, the printing is excellent, rich, even with multiple refills, the quality is excellent. I especially liked Canon printers i-SENSYS LBP6200D (without scanner), Canon i-SENSYS MF6140dn. Some printers have chips that block printing after the toner runs out, but this does not incur large financial costs, the chips are simply replaced. There is no need to buy a new cartridge.
However, if your printer supports manual duplex printing, the printer or printer driver may have instructions on how to load documents. Often the paper trays will then have a mark on how the paper should be aligned. It must also be installed correctly in the paper cassette for the printer to print only. When printing manually, more and more errors tend to sneeze, as if duplex printing were done automatically. Manual printing requires more time and practice before documents can be fully printed with duplex printing.
HP- has a neutral pricing policy, product quality is not bad, cartridges are often interchangeable with Canon ones. HP LaserJet P1606dn is an inexpensive printer model on average.
Xerox - in many ways similar to Samsung, often identical cartridges, often similar printers, slightly less known in popularity, although more than decent company. It was this company that became a household name. More than once we hear and say in our offices “make a photocopier.” When choosing a Xerox printer, you can pay attention to the following models: (MFP) Xerox WorkCentre 3220DN and Xerox Phaser 3250DN.
Duplexer Specifications
However, especially in the office, problems may arise this time as there is a need for fast processing. Automatic duplex printing is suitable for medium to high volume printing.
- Manual duplex printing for small print jobs.
- An automatic duplexer is always recommended in the office.
- Duplex printing on photos is only possible with a border.
To summarize, I would like to say the following:
Duplex technology will save you from problems with turning over documents when printing on a printer. The technology is used in inkjet and laser printers. From cheap models laser printers without scanner, recommended Samsung SL-M2620D, a good device in terms of build quality and printing. In printing, duplex is also a method of printing an image with two colors, mixing them, but more on that another time.
Anyone who uses duplex printing in the office can even order models that, once sorted, take over the sorting and folding. This saves more time, which also means higher purchasing costs. However, as a general rule, it is always recommended to use a duplex printer in an office environment - in private households this can be useful when the printer is also used for commercial purposes. Otherwise, most users will also have a manual duplex printer or a manual duplex printer.
