Mac Tips Daily! #135 - Desktop Printers

Submitted by jcost on Mon, 06/12/2006 - 08:14.

Users from the OS9 days frequently ask about how to create a desktop printer. You can still do this in OS X, they just bury it inside of the Printer Setup Utility. It's a very handy feature, since you simply need to drag and drop your document onto it, and it starts to print.

Here is how to do it:

Click on the 'Finder' icon on your dock to make it active, then choose 'Go->Utilities'
utilities

Next, select 'Printer Setup Utility'
printer setup utility

Click on the printer that you want to become your desktop printer - this will select it.
select a printer
Next, go to the menu, and choose 'Printers->Create Desktop Printer'
menu

A dialog box will appear with a default name for your printer. You can choose to rename it, or leave it as is.
Next, click 'Save'
dialog

Now you have a printer icon on your desktop.
printer

To print, simply 'drag & drop' a printable file onto your new 'desktop printer'.
With a few exceptions, you can print almost any document this way. Give it a try!


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