How to Start Each Printed Document on a New Sheet When Printing Double-Sided
Question details
The user needs to prevent multiple copies of a double-sided document from printing consecutively on the same physical sheet of paper.
- Product
- WPS Office / Printer Driver
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Printing multiple copies of a document or workbook using the double-sided (duplex) printing feature.
- Observed behavior
- When printing a document with an odd number of pages, the first page of the next copy starts printing on the back of the last page of the previous copy.
Check your document's total page count before printing multiple copies. If you are printing double-sided, an odd number of pages will inevitably cause the next copy to start on the back of the last sheet.
Add a Blank Page to Ensure an Even Page Count
The most reliable way to force a new copy to start on a fresh sheet is to ensure the document itself has an even number of pages.
Double-sided printing works by utilizing both the front and back of a physical piece of paper. Regardless of the software you are using, an odd-page document will leave the back side of the final sheet blank, which the printer will then use for the first page of the very next copy in the queue.
Scroll down to the very last page of your document, PDF, or the last active cell in your workbook.
Use the 'Insert' menu to add a 'Blank Page' at the end of your file. If using a spreadsheet, ensure the print area covers an extra blank page.
Check the document properties or the status bar at the bottom of the screen to confirm that the total page count is now an even number (e.g., 2, 4, 6).
Proceed to print multiple copies with the double-sided option enabled. Each new copy will now start on a fresh sheet.
Enable Separator Pages in Mac Printer Settings
Some advanced printer drivers allow you to automatically insert a separator page between copies without editing the original document.
Manage and Print Documents Seamlessly with WPS Office
WPS Office provides intuitive tools to manage page layouts, insert blank pages, and perfectly configure advanced printing options for PDFs, Word documents, and Excel workbooks, ensuring you never waste paper on poor print layouts.
- 1. Open your file in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open the document, PDF, or spreadsheet you wish to print.
- 2. Insert a blank page: Navigate to the end of your document, go to the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon, and click 'Blank Page'.
- 3. Verify formatting: Check the document status bar to ensure your total page count is an even number.
- 4. Print duplex copies: Click 'Menu' > 'Print' (or use Cmd + P), check the 'Two-Sided' printing option, set your number of copies, and click Print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my printer combine the end of one copy with the start of the next?
When printing double-sided, printers continuously print on the front and back of each sheet. If your document has an odd number of pages, the printer will efficiently use the remaining blank back side of the last sheet to start the first page of the subsequent copy.
Can I force a page break for new document sections instead of whole copies?
Yes. In WPS Office, you can use the 'Page Break' or 'Section Break (Next Page)' features found under the Page Layout tab. This forces specific chapters or sections to start on the front of a new sheet, which is especially useful for formatting books or reports.
Does this printing issue only happen on Mac computers?
No, this behavior is a standard physical function of how duplex (double-sided) printing works across all operating systems and printers, including Windows and Linux. The solution of adding a blank page to ensure an even page count applies universally.
