How do I print envelopes on Canon MX850 printer?

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Level 2

150 points

How do I print envelopes on Canon MX850 printer?

My Canon MX850 multifunction printer works fine when scanning documents or printing on regular paper, but I've run into an issue while trying to print an envelope and can't figure out how to resolve it. I'm running Yosemite 10.10.3 and the latest printer driver which Canon released in 2013 for Mavericks. They have no updated driver listed for Yosemite.

Regardless of whether I print from the main paper tray or from the vertical feeder on the back, the print job is offset to the left by a few inches as if the printer/driver are expecting the envelope to be centered in the feeder rather than positioned along the right edge, where it's designed to go. I reproduced the same issue when printing from MS Word, which suggests it's a driver/settings/OS issue rather than anything specific to the application from which I'm printing. I've tried toggling the orientation switch in the print dialog to no avail, as this just (predictably) rotates the printed image.

Here are screenshots of the settings I'm using in the print dialog box from the Contacts app (I edited out the addresses):

This old printer is still in like-new condition, and with my light usage it can run on a set of ink cartridges for 6 months or longer. From everything I've read, this model far exceeds the build quality and performance of Canon's newer models, so I have no desire to replace it, especially considering how seldom I print.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on May 4, 2015 10:15 AM

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Answer 1

PAHU

Level 6

16,723 points

May 4, 2015 3:40 PM in response to freediverx01

freediverx01 wrote:

Regardless of whether I print from the main paper tray or from the vertical feeder on the back, the print job is offset to the left by a few inches as if the printer/driver are expecting the envelope to be centered in the feeder rather than positioned along the right edge, where it's designed to go.

I'm pretty certain that the envelope will need to be centred. I don't have access to an MX850 but the later models of Canon MX and MG with the rear tray feed expect the paper/envelope to be in the middle with the tray guides next to the edges to help feed the paper/envelope in straight.

Also, from your images it appears that you are using Apple's AirPrint driver rather than the Canon driver - the AirPrint driver shows the B/W and Two Sided setting next to Copies while the Canon driver doesn't have these checkboxes. To confirm, open Printers & Scanners and select the MX850. In the right pane you will see Kind and next to that will be the driver in use. I expect you will see "Canon MX850 series - AirPrint". If this is so, removing this printer and add again, this time ensuring you select "Canon MX850 series" in the Use menu.

And from your images it appears you are connecting to a shared printer rather than directly to it. This will restrict you being able to select the Canon driver on the remote Mac as you will get whatever driver is being used on the sharing Mac - which is most likely the AirPrint driver in this case. So if you do need to connect to a shared connection then ensure the Mac sharing the MX850 is using the Canon driver and not the AirPrint driver.

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