TMO Quick Tip - Leopard: Restoring Advanced Printer Options

by , 7:30 AM EDT, March 31st, 2008

Mac OS X users familiar with Tiger's advanced printer setup options may be at a bit of a loss when they move to Leopard because it sure looks like those handy setup features are gone. It turns out they are still there -- just hidden. Luckily, it only takes a few steps to regain access to those options.

Here's how:

• Choose Apple menu > System Preferences to launch the System Preferences application.
• Select the Print & Fax Preference Pane.

Click the plus button to open the New Printer dialog.

• Click the plus button at the bottom of the printer list to add a new printer.

Control-click to show the tool bar contextual menu.

• Now Control-click the the New Printer dialog's tool bar and choose Customize Toolbar from the contextual pop-up menu.

Drag the Advanced button into the tool bar.

• Drag the Advanced button into the tool bar and then click the Done button.

The Print & Fax Advanced options.

If you aren't already familiar with the Advanced options when adding new printers, you might want to be. This is where you can find all of the nonstandard printer setup options like selecting FireWire-based printers, selecting certain Epson printers, setting up fax printers, selecting specific printer drivers or printer descriptions, and more.

Jeff Gamet is TMO's Morning Editor and Reviews Editor. He lectures, teaches and speaks on Mac OS X and design-related topics, and is the author of The Designer's Guide to Mac OS X from Peachpit Press.

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