PostScript - Duplexer used when printing on one side only

Author

Duplexer used when printing on one side only

Dave (from the UK)

2006-02-15, 9:58 pm

I have an HP 1320nw postscript printer (not Adobe licensed), to which I
have added 128 MB of RAM, making a total of 144 MB.

I only tend to print from UNIX, not Winblows, but whenever I print a
document in duplex mode, the paper always goes through the printer
twice, even if the last page is blank. So if the document has 5 sides,
it will uses 3 bits of paper and feed the paper through the duplexer 3
times. Since the last side is blank, this just slows the delivery of the
last page and adds wear to the printer. It would surely be more sensible
to use the duplexer on the first two pages, not not on the last one,
since there is nothing on the reverse side.

Is that usual with postscript printers? It seems a bit odd to me, and
one might think the printer would have sufficient intelligence to work
out the last page does not need to go through the duplexer if the page
has only one side.

Or is this an issue with the software and something the application
developers should fix?

--
Dave K

http://www.southminster-branch-line.org.uk/

Please note my email address changes periodically to avoid spam.
It is always of the form: month-year@domain. Hitting reply will work
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Aandi Inston

2006-02-16, 3:58 am

"Dave (from the UK)"
<see-my-signature@southminster-branch-line.org.uk> wrote:
>
>I only tend to print from UNIX, not Winblows, but whenever I print a
>document in duplex mode, the paper always goes through the printer
>twice, even if the last page is blank. So if the document has 5 sides,
>it will uses 3 bits of paper and feed the paper through the duplexer 3
>times. Since the last side is blank, this just slows the delivery of the
>last page and adds wear to the printer. It would surely be more sensible
>to use the duplexer on the first two pages, not not on the last one,
>since there is nothing on the reverse side.

This isn't especially unusual. If you consider: after imaging page 5,
there will be more left in the PostScript file (even a few lines).
That means that the printer doesn't know the job is finished.

It is likely that as the page is imaged, the printer has to make a
decision about paper path. So it may already be lined up for the
duplexer, with no opportunity to change its mind.

Then end of job is detected, and the page position means it is to be
cleared through the duplex and ejected.
>
>Or is this an issue with the software and something the application
>developers should fix?

The software could in theory turn off duplexing before a final odd
numbered page. But this could have many complications, like breaking
DSC compliance in the PostScript, and isn't liekly.
----------------------------------------
Aandi Inston quite@dial.pipex.com http://www.quite.com
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