The printer system is based on CUPS, the Common Unix Printing System. A detailed description can be found in the online Users Manual.

• There is a graphical user interface which allows to select the printer and printing options interactively
  kprinter file_to_print.ps
  (Use the Properties button to configure the printer. Don't change anything in the System Options menu.)
  It is possible to save the selected options as your personal default options. They are saved in the file ~/.lpoptions.
  
• The standard BSD printer commands lpr, lpq, lprm can be used, too. They use the -P option to identify the printer. Use -Pp1, -Pp2, -Pp3 and -Pp4 for the two central laser printers and the two central color printers, resp. or -Pheine, -Pkafka etc. for the printers locally connected to a linux computer.
  
  • lpstat -p shows the list of known printers.
  • lpstat -d shows the default printer.

• The lpr command allows you to pass printer options using the -o option. The availability of the options depends on the printer type. (You can find them out by playing with kprinter, saving options and looking into the .lpoptions file.) The following options work for the central laser printers p1 and p2:
• lpr -o Duplex=DuplexNoTumble
  This is the default: printing on both sides, turn along the long edge.
• lpr -o Duplex=None
  This is for printing on one side only.
• lpr -o Duplex=DuplexTumble -o number-up=2
  prints "2 pages on 1", turn along the short edge.
• User defined printer instances:
  You can define your own "printer subtypes" connecting a set of options with a new printer name of the form printername/subtype, e.g.
  
  • lpoptions -p p1/simplex -o Duplex=None
    defines the new printer "p1/simplex" for one-sided printing on printer p1.
  • lpoptions -p p1/d -o Duplex=DuplexTumble -o number-up=2
    defines the "paper-saving" printer p1/d which prints "2 pages on 1" on both sides.
  • lpoptions -d p1/d
    then makes this to your default printer.

• Text (ASCII) files can be printed without any special option.