Double-Sided Printing: How to Print on the Back of Paper

Want to print on both sides of your junk journal printables — like adding a patterned back to a journal page or ephemera? In this guide, you’ll learn all about double-sided printing, avoid mistakes, and get beautiful results every time.

Post Summary

Learn how to print on the back of a printable (with any printer) to create double-sided pages, flaps, and ephemera without misprints or paper jams.
Find out what to do — and what to avoid. I’ll walk you through feeding paper the right way, aligning designs, and choosing the best paper types for double-sided printing.
Want to jump in fast? Start with the Quick Guide to begin right away.

If you’ve ever tried to print on both sides of your printable and ended up with two designs printed on top of each other, a backwards page, or a paper jam… you’re not alone.

Many junk journalers — especially beginners or those using a home printer for the first time — feel confused or even a little intimidated by the idea of printing double-sided. And honestly? I get it. Every printer behaves a little differently, and figuring out how to flip and feed the paper the right way can feel like guesswork.

This guide is here to take that stress off your shoulders. Whether you’re trying to print a background pattern on the back of a journal page, or want your tags and fussy cuts to look finished front and back, I’ll show you exactly how to do it — in plain, friendly language.

We’ll walk through everything you need to know, step-by-step, with helpful troubleshooting tips and easy ways to test your printer. And if you’ve already found a printing method that works for you? Stick with it! This guide is here if you’re looking to learn more or finally get those perfect, professional-looking results. 💛

Quick Guide

How to Print on the Back of a Printable

Want to print a design on the back of your junk journal pages, tags, or ephemera? Here’s how to do it — quick and easy:

1. Choose Your Back Design

Use one of the included background pages from your kit (like ledgers, florals, or grunge textures). These are designed to look beautiful on the reverse side of your printables.

2. Check Your Paper

Make sure your paper supports double-sided printing. I recommend 32 lb text paper (120 gsm) — thick enough to prevent ink bleed, but still easy to print on.

3. Know How Your Printer Feeds Paper

This changes everything!

🖨️ Rear feed: Print side should face toward you
🖨️ Bottom/front tray: Print side should face down
🖨️ Not sure? Run a test print with a marked page first.

4. Flip the Sheet & Reload It

Once the front design is printed, flip the paper and reinsert it based on your printer’s feeding direction. Make sure the top edge is still facing the right way!

5. Print the Back Design

Choose the back page from your files and print using the same settings. You can use the same design on all your pages or mix and match — your choice!

6. Not Lined Up Perfectly?

That’s okay! Trim with scissors, ink the edges, or cover any white bits with washi tape or embellishments.

Download the Double-Sided Printing Cheat Sheet

📌 Need help figuring out how your printer works, or want more tips for better results? Check out the full post below for troubleshooting and alignment tricks. Or skip ahead to the FAQ section if something’s not working.

Before you start

🖨️ Why (and When) to Print on the Back

Printing on the back gives your journal a more finished, thoughtful feel — especially when both sides will be visible. It makes flip-throughs more magical and your work feel extra intentional.

When it’s worth it:

Journal pages – so they’re not plain white when flipped.
Folio flaps, pockets & envelopes – for charm inside and out.
Fussy cuts & ephemera – for vintage-style, double-sided pieces.

When to skip it:

The piece will be glued down flat.
The printable already has a front and back piece.
You’re printing stickers or labels — no one sees the back!

🗂️ How to Know if a Printable Needs a Back

I make it easy — check the bottom right corner of each page. If it says something like:

“Print this on the back of journal pages” — that’s your sign!

No note? Then it’s optional or not needed. And of course, if you think it would look better with a pretty pattern on the back… go for it. It’s your journal!

🧾 Printer Setup

… & Paper Tips (Before You Hit Print)

A few quick things to check before printing on the back:

✅ Pick the Right Paper

Thin paper can bleed, curl, or show the back design through the front. For best results, I recommend:

120 gsm / 32 lb writing paper – for double-sided journal pages
160 gsm / 90 lb index cardstock – for folios, pockets & ephemera

Both are sturdy enough for clean, double-sided prints without warping. See my full paper guide

🖨️ Use the Rear Tray (If You Have One)

Cardstock feeds best through the rear tray — it keeps the sheet straight and helps prevent jams.

Load one sheet at a time for thick paper
Set your printer to the correct paper type and quality

🔁 Load Your Paper

… to Print on the Back

This is the part that trips up so many crafters — and I totally get it. Figuring out which way to put the paper in can feel like a guessing game, especially since every printer works a little differently.

Here’s how to figure it out without wasting ink or paper:

Do a Quick Test First

Before printing your real project, do a one-page test:

Take a plain sheet of paper
Write “This side is up” on one side
Put it in your printer just like you normally would
Print anything — even just a test page or printable
Check which side your printer printed on

This tells you whether your printer prints on the top or bottom of the sheet — which is the info you need to print the back correctly.

📥 If You Use a Front Tray (Cassette Feed)

Most front trays flip the paper over before printing.
That means you need to place your sheet printed side up and the blank side down.

📌 In other words, the side you want printed on next (the back) should be facing down in the tray.

📤 If You Use a Rear Tray

Rear trays feed the paper straight through without flipping.
That means you place the sheet printed side down and the blank side up.

📌 Here, the back side (the one you want to print on next) should be facing up.

🔁 Side Load Feeders or Manual Trays

If your printer has a side feeder or a manual single-sheet slot, it may vary. Some side trays flip the page, others don’t.

✨ That’s why doing the quick test page above is so helpful — it removes all the guesswork!

🎯 Printing Tips

… for Beautiful Double-Sided Results

Once you’ve figured out how to load your paper correctly, let’s talk about how to get your front and back designs to line up just right — and how to avoid those little mishaps that can throw everything off.

✨ Tip 1: Use the Right Paper

This is important: use paper that can handle printing on both sides.

I recommend 120 gsm / 32 lb writing paper like HP Premium 32 — it’s thick enough that ink won’t bleed through, but still flexible and printable on both sides.
Avoid standard printer paper (20 lb / 75 gsm) — it’s too thin and can cause ink bleed or show-through from the other side.

👉 More about paper types

🧪 Tip 2: Always Do a Test First

Before printing a full set of journal pages or ephemera backs, test one sheet to:

Confirm your printer’s page flip direction
Double-check how the designs line up front-to-back
Save yourself from wasting ink and paper

🔁 Tip 3: Match Fronts and Backs Manually

Some printers offer automatic double-sided printing — but I don’t recommend using this. Why? Because in junk journaling, you usually want to choose exactly what goes on the back — not leave it to your printer.

Instead:

Print the front of your page
Flip and reload your paper (as tested above)
Print the back side with the design you’ve chosen

🎯 Tip 4: Adjust the Print Size for Better Alignment

If your printer doesn’t print borderless (most don’t), the design on the back might not perfectly line up with the front.

✨ My favorite trick?

Print the front at 98%
Print the back at 100%

This gives the back design a slight edge so you’re less likely to see a white border or awkward overlap.

📏 A Quick Note on Borderless Printing

Trying to avoid white edges when printing on both sides? Borderless printing sounds like the solution — but not every printer supports it, and it’s not always necessary.

Check your printer settings for a “borderless” option
Works best on lighter papers and full-page designs
May cause misalignment or smudging on thicker cardstock

💡 Tip: If your printer doesn’t offer borderless mode, use the 98% front / 100% back trick to help align the edges.

🎨 Tip 5: Cover Up Any White Edges

Still ended up with a small white border or misalignment? Don’t worry — it happens to all of us!

Try one of these fixes:

Ink the edges with Distress Ink for a grungy or vintage look
Add washi tape or a border strip for a decorative edge
Trim slightly with a paper trimmer or scissors

✨ Honestly? These little “mistakes” often lead to even more beautiful pages.

FAQ

Paper Feeding & Orientation

The best way to know is to do a quick test print. Here’s how:

Take a sheet of paper and draw a small X on one side.
Print any page on it.
Check where the X ended up — did the printer print on the same side as the X or the opposite?

That tells you which side your printer prints on, and you’ll know exactly how to reinsert the paper for the back side.

This usually means the paper was reinserted the same way it came out, so the printer just printed over the existing design. It’s super common — you’re not alone!

To fix this: flip the paper based on how your printer feeds (see the question above), and try again with a new test sheet. Once you figure it out once, it’ll make total sense going forward.

Ah, the classic upside-down print! This happens when the paper was flipped in the wrong direction before reinserting.

🌀 Here’s the trick: most of the time, you need to rotate the paper 180° horizontally (so the top edge becomes the bottom). Try again with just one page and see how your printer handles it. Once you get it right once, it’ll become second nature.

Printers aren’t always perfect with front-to-back alignment — even when you do everything right. If the design looks slightly off-center or like it “shifted,” try this:

Print the front at 98%
Print the back at 100%

This gives the back design a little wiggle room and helps cover any tiny edge gaps. If there’s still a little white showing, you can trim it off or ink the edges for a vintage look.

Not usually — but it depends on the thickness of your paper.

For lightweight paper, your printer’s default tray should be fine.
For cardstock or thicker paper, I recommend using the rear tray (if your printer has one) to avoid jams and feed issues. And when in doubt, always print one sheet at a time!

Alignment & Scaling

That little white edge happens when the front and back designs don’t line up perfectly — which is totally normal, especially if your printer doesn’t do double-sided printing automatically.

📌 Here’s how to fix it:

Print the front side at 98%
Print the back side at 100%

This gives the back a slight size boost and helps ensure full coverage. If you still see a thin white strip, you can trim it off or add a little ink, washi tape, or lace — nobody will ever know!

Use “Actual Size” if you’re printing on Letter-size paper (8.5″ x 11″) and your printable was designed for that size.
Use “Fit to Page” or “Shrink oversized pages” if you’re printing on A4 paper, since it’s slightly taller and narrower than Letter.

The key is to be consistent. Use the same setting for both the front and back to help everything stay aligned.

Perfect alignment can be tricky, but here are a few things that help:

✅ Use a high-quality, heavier-weight paper — thin paper can shift or warp slightly during printing.

✅ Make sure the paper is loaded straight and flat in your tray.

✅ Choose “Center” under Page Position in your printer settings if available.

✅ Do a test print first with your chosen settings. Once you know how your printer behaves, you can print the rest with confidence.

Even if things don’t line up 100%, remember — this is junk journaling! A little imperfection just adds to the charm. 💛

Paper Compatibility

In most cases, no — photo paper and glossy paper are coated on one side only, which is the side meant for printing.

If you try to print on the uncoated side, your ink might smear, pool, or not stick at all. The texture just can’t hold the ink the way a regular or matte surface can.

📌 Tip: If you’re using photo paper, print it as your top layer — and use regular or light cardstock underneath if you want a printed back.

Good news: most home printers can handle thicker paper up to 250–300 gsm, but only if it’s fed correctly.

Here’s how to avoid jams:

✅ Use the rear paper feed tray (if your printer has one). This creates a straight paper path — essential for heavy cardstock.

✅ Feed one sheet at a time. It may be a bit slower, but your printer (and your nerves) will thank you.

✅ Never force thick paper through the main cassette tray — it’s more likely to curl, jam, or skip.

📌 Want more tips? My Printing Guide has a section just for thick paper and cardstock.

Let’s break it down:

Sticker paper: Nope. It has an adhesive backing that should not go through your printer. Even if it’s white on both sides, only print on the front. The back is meant to peel — not to be printed on.
Vellum: It depends. Most printable vellum is coated on one side. You can usually print on the back, but the design might look duller or take longer to dry. Always test a sheet before committing.

📌 Tip: If you want something pretty on the back of a sticker or vellum piece, print the back design on regular paper and layer it instead.

Ink & Quality Concerns

If you notice the ink bleeding through your paper, it’s likely because the paper is too thin to handle heavy ink coverage on both sides.

Regular printer paper (like 20–22 lb / ~75–80 gsm) is especially prone to this.

✅ Try using a thicker paper, like 28 lb or 32 lb (105–120 gsm), which is my go-to for junk journal pages. It holds ink beautifully and prevents bleed-through even when printing on both sides.

It depends!

If you’re printing on coated or specialty paper (like vellum or semi-gloss), the back side may not absorb ink as well. This can make the design look muted or faded.

Also, double-check your print quality setting. If it’s set to “Draft” or “Fast,” your printer uses less ink — which will definitely affect vibrancy.

📌 Tip: For rich color, choose “High” or “Photo” quality in your print settings when printing on the back — especially for detailed patterns.

Yes — especially if you’re using an inkjet printer.

Give your page at least 1–2 minutes to dry after printing the front side before feeding it back in. Thicker papers may take longer, especially if your design has a lot of dark colors or heavy ink coverage.

📌 Rushing this step can lead to smearing, roller marks, or paper sticking inside your printer.

If you’re in a hurry, a gentle wave in the air or laying the page flat in a dry area can help speed things up — just avoid touching the ink directly.

General Questions

Not necessarily — and that’s totally okay!

Some printables are meant to have a blank back, especially if they’ll be glued down, layered, or turned into stickers. You’ll also want to avoid printing on the back of elements that already have a front-and-back design built in (like certain folio parts or folded envelopes).

📌 Good news: I always include a note in the bottom right corner of my printables to let you know if printing on the back is recommended — so you never have to guess!

Technically, yes — but I don’t recommend it.

While many home printers offer automatic duplex (double-sided) printing, it doesn’t give you full control over what prints where. And with junk journaling, we want to be intentional about which design ends up on the back of which printable.

✨ Tip: For best results, print manually one sheet at a time, especially if you’re using thick cardstock or want to match specific designs.

Absolutely — and that’s part of the fun!

You can print the same pattern on the back of everything (super simple), or choose different background designs to create more variety and personality.

Some crafters love to theme their backs — think florals behind fussy cuts, ledger paper behind ephemera, or soft neutrals behind bright journal pages. It’s entirely up to you!

Yes — and it happens to all of us, I promise.

If your back design prints upside down, overlaps oddly, or ends up on the same side again… take a breath. You’ve got options.

• Layer something over it: Use a journaling card, another piece of ephemera, or a bit of washi tape.
• Ink the edges or corners to hide any misalignment.
• Cut it down: Turn the printable into tags or pockets instead.
• Or… save it for practice or collage fodder. Nothing is ever really wasted in junk journaling!

Next Steps

Printing on the back of a printable doesn’t have to be a mystery. With a little practice (and the right guide 😉), you’ll know exactly how to flip, feed, and align your designs like a pro.

And remember — it’s totally normal to mess it up once or twice while you’re learning. I’ve been there. Test prints are your friend, and every “oops” is just one step closer to beautiful, double-sided success.

Need more help?

Here are a few posts you might find helpful next:

💛 Most of all, don’t stress. Part of the charm of handmade journals is that imperfections become part of the story.

Happy crafting,
Cyna xx

Print on The Back of Paper

Pin For Later

Discover Content

Helpful Guides

Skill Level

Project Type

Holiday

Season