You'll need to install the print driver and print queue for the printer you want to print to. If you want to receive feedback, such as error messages or alerts about insufficent credit, you can also install the DS-Print print client (PaperCut).
Installing the print driver
1. Find the printer you want to print to in this list of college and departmental printers.
2. It is important you make a note of the print queue name, printer manufacturer and model of the printer. These will be required during the installation and configuring of the printer.
3. Download and install the driver for the printer from the manufacturer's download page:
If you can't find the correct driver, contact the Service Desk and quote the print queue name and your macOS version.
Configuring the print queue
Follow the appropriate instructions for macOS Big Sur and Monterey or macOS Ventura. We don't recommend using versions older than Big Sur because they no longer receive security updates.
macOS Big Sur and Monterey
1. In System Preferences choose Printers & Scanners. If required click the locked padlock and authenticate.
2. Click Add (+) to add the printer.
3. Click the Advanced icon.
Tip - If the Advanced icon is not shown in the toolbar, right-click next to the icons in the toolbar.
Choose Customise Toolbar....
Drag the Advanced icon into the toolbar and select it.
4. Set the Type drop-down to "Windows printer via spoolss".
5. Enter in the URL "smb://print.pwfad.pwf.private.cam.ac.uk/<print queue name>" making sure to insert the print queue name you noted down earlier.
6. Set Name field identical to the print queue name you noted down earlier. Don't use any spaces in the name.
7. From the Use drop-down, select "Select Printer Software..." . Choose the correct driver for your printer from the list. You can also use the search box to find it, which makes it easier as it is a long list.
8. Click Add.
9. Optionally, you can configure any extra features that the printer supports, however default values usually provide good basic functionality. If needed contact IT Support at the institution that provides the printer for specific printer option queries.
macOS Ventura
1. Open System Settings choose Printers & Scanners.
2. Select Add Printer, Scanner or Fax to add the printer.
3. Select the Advanced icon (a pair of cogs).
If the Advanced icon is not shown in the toolbar, right-click next to the icons in the toolbar.
Choose Customise Toolbar....
Drag the Advanced icon into the toolbar and select it.
4. Set the Type drop-down to Windows printer via spoolss.
5. In the URL field, enter smb://print.ds.cam.ac.uk/<print queue name> making sure to insert the print queue name you noted down earlier – for example, smb://print.ds.cam.ac.uk/IS_FindMe.
6. In the Name field, enter the print queue name you noted down earlier. Don't use any spaces in the name.
7. In the Use drop-down menu, choose either Generic PostScript Printer or Select Printer Software... and search for the driver you installed earlier.
8. Select Add.
Your first print job may be held in the local queue for authentication. To resolve this, select the 'retry' icon and then authenticate with your Raven credentials.
Installing the DS-Print Print Client (PaperCut) application
Although not essential we reccomend installing the PaperCut client. It will give you feedback about print jobs that are printed or rejected.
- Download the client.
- Open the downloaded file and copy PCClient to your Applications folder, and then run it by double-clicking on it.
- Once installed you can add it to your Dock for convenience by dragging the PCClient application to it. Once added to the Dock, right-click the icon and from the Options menu select Open at Login. This will ensure it is always running which is essential if you want to receive feedback.
You may see a "PCClient" cannot be opened message when you attempt to run the client.
To fix this, go to System Preferences and then Security & Privacy. Under the General, tab authorise changes by selecting the padlock, if required enter your Mac's password.
Find the error message "PCClient" was blocked from use because it is not from an identified developer. and click on Open Anyway.
When prompted click Open to complete installing the PaperCut Client.
How to print
1. Print your document using the usual method from within the document's application. You will be prompted for authentication, enter your Desktop Services (also known as MCS) username and password or UIS credentials as shown below. Visit "Check My Password" to test your username and password.
2. Optionally, tick "Remember this password in my keychain"
3. Your document will print if successfully submitted and feedback will be provided. FindMe printers require submitted print job(s) to be released at the MFD before printing.
Printing in black and white
The printing system (PaperCut) analyses each submitted print job and charges according to the configuration. Some print drivers create print jobs that appear to be black and white, but contain colour information. This causes PaperCut to detect the job as colour. To prevent this, you can configure a job to be black and white (also known as greyscale) in the Print dialogue box. The setting location varies from print driver to print driver. You may need to click a 'Show Details' button first to display all available options.