Flip on Long Edge vs Short Edge: Explanations & Print Online Free
Summary :
Easily understand “Flip on long edge” and “Flip on short edge” for PDF printing and instantly print online.
Table of Contents
When printing double-sided documents, you may encounter the options “flip on long edge” and “flip on short edge“.
They refer to how the pages are oriented when flipped, which affects the readability and layout of the printed material, like booklets and brochures.
Learn in detail about these terms, and use our free online PDF printer to instantly print PDFs and flip on long/short edges with ease.
Flip on Long Edge vs Short Edge: Explained
In layman’s terms, the long edge and short edge refer to the longer and shorter sides of a rectangular paper.
Short and Long Edges
“Flip on long edge” (or long edge binding) means turning a page over by rotating it along its longer side, like flipping a book by its spine.
Flip on Long Edge
“Flip on short edge” (or short edge binding) means rotating it along its shorter side, similar to flipping a notepad or a calendar open.
Flip on Short Edge
For example, for the portrait printing orientation, “Flip on long edge” flips horizontally, while “Flip on short edge” flips vertically.
How to Print Double-Sided PDFs Online for Free
If you need to print your documents double-sided, you don’t need to download or install any software.
PDFgear is a free, web-based, and versatile PDF editor that allows you to print PDFs double-sided, and flip on either long or short edge, even with multiple pages per sheet, with no sign-up, and no watermark.
Step 1. Navigate to PDFgear online PDF editor and click Upload PDF file to upload the PDF you need to print.
Upload PDF
Step 2. Click the upper-right Printer button.
Click Print
Step 3. Go to Destination and choose the physical printer that is connected to your device.
Choose Printer
Step 4. Click on More settings below. Go to the Two-sided section and tick on Print on both sides.
Print Both Sides Online
Step 5. Choose whether you want to flip on the long edge or flip on the short edge, and click the Print button to start printing.
The Comparison Table
| Feature | Flip on Long Edge | Flip on Short Edge |
| Orientation | Portrait (taller than wide) | Landscape (wider than tall) |
| Page Flip Direction | Flips along the longer edge | Flips along the shorter edge |
| Reading Experience | Pages read left to right | Pages read top to bottom |
| Common Uses | Books, reports | Calendars, brochures |
FAQs
When should I use flip on long edge?
Use flip on long edge when printing documents in portrait orientation, such as reports, essays, or books. This ensures that the text remains oriented correctly when flipping pages, maintaining a natural reading flow.
When is flip on short edge more appropriate?
Flip on short edge is ideal for landscape-oriented documents, such as charts, diagrams, or presentation slides. It allows for better use of horizontal space and ensures that the layout remains consistent when pages are flipped.
What happens if I choose the wrong flip option?
Choosing the wrong flip option can lead to misaligned text or upside-down pages. For instance, selecting flip on short edge for a portrait document may result in the second page being upside down, making it difficult to read.
How to enable “flip on long edge” or “flip on short edge” on Windows and Mac?
On Windows, go to “Printers & Scanners,” select your printer, click “Manage,” then “Printer Properties.” Under the “Finishing” tab, you’ll find options for flipping. On Mac, go to “Printers & Scanners,” select your printer, and then click “Options & Supplies.” From there, you may find similar settings under the “Driver” tab.
