How to Make Copies With an All-in-One Printer

1What this lesson covers

This lesson shows you how to copy documents with an all-in-one printer, no computer needed. You’ll place the original, start a black-and-white or color copy, and use the common options: number of copies, size (enlarge or reduce), darkness and double-sided copying. It’s handy for school forms, recipes, receipts and the occasional ID copy.

2Before you start

You need an all-in-one printer: one with a lid and scanner glass on top. Load plain paper in the main tray and check that the printer has ink or toner.

Copying is done entirely on the printer’s control panel. Printers with touchscreens usually have a Copy icon on the home screen; models with buttons often have separate Black and Color start buttons. Menus and button names vary by model, so keep the manual handy for your model’s copy options.

3Make a basic copy

1. Lift the lid and place the original face down on the glass, lined up with the corner marker.
2. Close the lid gently.
3. Open the Copy function. Tap Copy on the screen or press the copy button. You should see: a copy screen with options such as number of copies and color.
4. Set the number of copies with the plus and minus controls or the number keys.
5. Start the copy. Choose Black (or Mono) or Color. You should see: the scanner light move across the glass, then the copy print.

4Copy several pages with the document feeder

1. Remove staples and clips, and straighten the stack.
2. Load the pages in the feeder facing the way the icon shows, and slide the guides to touch the edges.
3. Open Copy and choose your options. For several copies of a multi-page document, look for a Collate or Sort option so each set comes out in order.
4. Start the copy. You should see: pages feed through one by one and copies print in sets.

5Use the most helpful copy options

1. Reduce or enlarge. Look for Resize, Reduce/Enlarge or a percentage setting. Choices like Fit to page are useful when the original is slightly bigger than your paper.
2. Lighter or darker. Adjust Density, Darkness or Lighter/Darker if the copy is pale or too heavy, for example when copying a faint pencil worksheet.
3. Double-sided. Printers with automatic duplex usually offer options like one-sided to two-sided in the copy settings. Without duplex, copy one side, turn the copies over as your manual describes, and copy the other side.
4. ID card copy. Some models have an ID copy mode that puts both sides of a card on one page. If yours does, the screen guides you to turn the card over.
5. Quality. Some printers offer draft or best quality for copies, just like printing.

6Check that it worked

Compare the copy with the original. You should see: everything readable, the right size, straight and with no missing edges. Check that the number of copies matches what you set, and that multi-page sets are in order.

7Troubleshooting

• The copy is blank. The original was probably face up. Place it face down on the glass.
• Copies are crooked. Line the original up with the corner marker, or slide the feeder guides in against the stack.
• Lines or streaks on every copy. Clean the scanner glass and, if you used the feeder, the narrow glass strip it reads through. If printed pages from the computer also have streaks, see improve print quality.
• The copy is pale. Increase the darkness setting, and check ink or toner levels.
• Color option missing. Some all-in-one printers are black and white only, even though the scanner can see color.
• You’d rather keep a digital copy. Scan it instead; see how to scan to PDF.

8When to get more help

If the scanner light doesn’t move, the printer shows a scanner error after restarting, or the feeder jams on every page, contact the manufacturer’s support for your model. Clear jams only from the covers the manual shows, and never force the lid or feeder open.

9FAQ

Do I need a computer to make copies?

No. Copying works from the printer’s own control panel, as long as the printer is switched on with paper and ink or toner loaded.

Why is there no copy option on my printer?

It may be a printer only, without a scanner. Look for a lid with glass underneath; if there isn’t one, it can’t copy.

Can I copy a page from a book?

Yes. Open the book face down on the glass, press gently on the spine area with your hand, and close the lid as far as it goes. Don’t press hard on the glass.

Does copying use more ink than printing?

It uses about the same ink or toner as printing a similar page. Dark originals and color copies use more.