Duplex printing

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Duplex printing is a feature of computer printers and MFPs that allows the automatic printing of a sheet of paper on both sides. Print devices without this capability can only print on a single side of paper, this is sometimes called simplex printing.

Duplex printers work by using a duplexing unit that reverses a piece of paper after the first side has been printed. Often, on MFPs, this is combined with a Reversing Automatic Document Feeder (RADF) to allow for duplex scanning also.

Duplex print devices, depending on options, software and printer settings, can print single-sided page to single-sided page (1:1) or double-sided page to double-sided page (2:2). Many can also combine single-sided pages into a double-sided page format (1:2). Double-sided booklet formats (2:2 with a center fold) are also available, depending on optional outputs from the printer.

Simplex printers can still print duplex jobs; however, the user has to manually turn the print job over and re-initialize the printing of the document.