Print double sided and multiple pages on Ubuntu

Question

I would like to print two pages per page, and both side of the paper (4 pages into a single sheet of paper). I am using a cheap laser printer (Xerox DocuPrint 203A). In Windows, the printer software will control everything, and prompt me to flip the papers, after finishing printing one side of the papers.

How do I do that on Ubuntu 9.04 64bit?

Note: I can print both side of the papers by printing odd first, and then even. But, I have no idea on how to print 2 pages into one page, for both sides.

Answer 1

From UbuntuForums Printing Tips Multiple Pages per sheet

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Create a dummy pdf-document that has two pages (of the original document) in every page.
for CUPS:

• general tab: select the PDF printer from the main window / the reverse option should be - - UNchecked
• page setup tab:
• pages per side : 2
• two sided : one sided
• only print : all sheets
• hit print

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Maybe, this will help.
Making PDF documents in Ubuntu 9.04 with CUPS-PDF (and gutenprint)

Answer 2

This has been a feature request in Ubuntu for a while now. As of yet their is no official support, but there is a work around:

a) Export to PDF in OpenOffice.

b) Use pdfnup to print multiple pages per sheet.