TestDock

Duplex test page

Print two pages on one sheet of paper. Big side numbers and TOP arrows show whether the back is upside down, and registration crosses printed in the same place on both sides show how well front and back line up when you hold the sheet against a light.

PDF · A4PDF · Letter

In the print dialog choose 100% / Actual size (not Fit to page), turn on Background graphics, and pick the same paper size as here.

TestDock duplex test · frontPaper: A4 (210 × 297 mm) · print both pages on one sheet, 100%1TOPPrint this PDF two-sided (duplex), long-edge flip.Then hold the sheet against a light:the crosses on both sides should overlap.Original pattern. Registration crosses are mirrored so both sides line up after a long-edge flip.TestDock duplex test · backPaper: A4 (210 × 297 mm) · print both pages on one sheet, 100%2TOPSide 2: the TOP arrow should point the same way as side 1.If it points down, switch to the other flip setting.Use the small scales to read any offset in mm.Original pattern. Registration crosses are mirrored so both sides line up after a long-edge flip.TestDock duplex test · frontPaper: US Letter (8.5 × 11 in) · print both pages on one sheet, 100%1TOPPrint this PDF two-sided (duplex), long-edge flip.Then hold the sheet against a light:the crosses on both sides should overlap.Original pattern. Registration crosses are mirrored so both sides line up after a long-edge flip.TestDock duplex test · backPaper: US Letter (8.5 × 11 in) · print both pages on one sheet, 100%2TOPSide 2: the TOP arrow should point the same way as side 1.If it points down, switch to the other flip setting.Use the small scales to read any offset in mm.Original pattern. Registration crosses are mirrored so both sides line up after a long-edge flip.

How to print it

  1. Choose A4 or US Letter under Paper to match the paper in the tray.
  2. Press Print test page (it prints both pages) or download the two-page PDF.
  3. In the print dialog turn on two-sided or duplex printing and choose the long-edge flip (sometimes called book or flip on long edge). Keep 100% / Actual size and portrait orientation.
  4. If your printer has no automatic duplex unit, print page 1, put the sheet back in the tray as your printer's manual describes for manual duplex, and print page 2.

Two-sided options are set in your operating system's print dialog or the printer driver; this page cannot switch them on for you.

Reading the result

  • Side 1 and side 2 are printed as large numbers. If both are on the same side of two sheets, duplex was not used.
  • TOP arrows: on a portrait page with a long-edge flip, both arrows point to the same paper edge. If the arrow on side 2 points the other way, the printer used a short-edge flip — switch to the other flip setting.
  • Registration crosses: hold the sheet against a window or lamp. The five crosses are placed so that front and back coincide after a long-edge flip. The crosses on side 2 have small scales with 1 mm ticks up to 5 mm each way; read how far the front cross sits from the back one.
  • An offset that is the same at every cross is a shift of the whole back page. An offset that grows from one end of the sheet to the other points to skew or scaling between the two passes.

Limits and next steps

  • Some front-to-back offset is normal, especially with manual duplex and on thin paper; how much is acceptable depends on the job.
  • Many printers have a margin or registration adjustment for the second side in their settings or maintenance tools. If yours has one, adjust it and print again.
  • To check scale, margins and skew on a single side first, use the printer alignment test page. For a general print check, use the printer test page.

Questions

Should I use long-edge or short-edge flip?

For portrait documents that are read like a book, use long-edge flip. Short-edge flip suits landscape pages and calendar-style binding. This test page is portrait and designed for long-edge flip.

Why is the back side upside down?

The flip setting does not match the page orientation. Switch between long-edge and short-edge in the print dialog and print the test again.

Can I test manual duplex?

Yes. Print page 1, reload the sheet as your printer's manual describes, then print page 2. The arrows and crosses show whether you turned the paper the right way.

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