FREE SHIPPING on printer ink cartridges & toner orders of $50+

What Does Collate Mean When Printing?

by William Elward

Collate is an important feature when printing documents. It refers to the process of gathering and organizing the printed documents in a specific order. Collate allows for multiple copies of a document to be printed in the correct order. It is often used when printing multiple copies of a large document such as a book or a thesis.

Collating is important because it ensures that all of the printed documents are in the same order. Without collating, the printed copies of a document could be out of order, making it difficult or impossible to read. Collate also helps save time and money, as it eliminates the need to manually rearrange the printed copies of a document.

Collate is available on many types of printers, including inkjet, laser, and multifunction printers. Some printers come with an automatic collate function, while others require the user to manually collate the documents. When using an automatic collate feature, the user simply has to select the number of copies they would like to print, and the printer will automatically collate the documents in the correct order.

There are also different ways to collate documents. The two most common methods are side-by-side collating and page order collating. Side-by-side collating involves printing the copies side-by-side, so that each copy starts on a new page. Page order collating involves printing the copies in the order that they appear in the document, so that all copies of a page are printed before the next page is printed.

Collating is a useful feature for anyone who needs to print multiple copies of a document. It ensures that the copies are printed in the correct order, and can help save time and money. It is an essential feature for anyone who prints large documents, and is available on most types of printers.

Here's how to set your print to collate your print job:
  1. Insert the paper into the printer's paper tray.
  2. Open the printer's settings on your computer. This can be done by selecting the printer icon in the toolbar (or in the settings of your document), and clicking "Settings" or "Properties".
  3. When the new window opens, select the "Finishing" tab.
  4. In the "Finishing" tab, select "Collate" from the drop-down menu.
  5. Click "OK" to save your settings, and then click "Print" to start the print job.
  6. Your printer will now begin printing, collating the pages as it goes.

About William Elward

Founder of Castle Ink, William Elward has 20 years experience in the printer industry. He's been featured on CNN Money, Yahoo, PC World, Computer World, and other top publications and frequently blogs about printers and ink cartridges. He's an expert at diagnosing printer issues and has published guides to fixing common printer issues across the internet. A graduate of Bryant University and Columbia's Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program, he's held various leadership positions at The College Board, Bankrate, Zocdoc, and Everyday Health. Follow him on Twitter at William Elward's Twitter Profile


Back to Printer Support