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Copy of Print, Copy or Scan in the Library

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PaperCut Basics

What is PaperCut? papercut logo

  • PaperCut is the pay-to-print system for self-service printing at San Diego City College (City). 

How does it work? 

  • A PaperCut student print account (with a zero balance) is automatically generated for you based on your student ID# as a currently-enrolled student at City.
  • You add money to this account by using an Add Value Station (cash or credit card) or using PayPal prior to printing
  • You can print from many networked computers on campus and your print job(s) will be sent to a PaperCut printer station where you can select from a queue the print job(s) you would like to print. 

How much does it cost? 

  • Black ink prints are 10 cents per page. 
  • Color ink prints are 50 cents per page. 

Step 1: Adding Value to PaperCut

Your PaperCut account will have a zero balance when you first see it. Follow instructions below to add value with cash, credit, or PayPal. Be sure to have adequate funds available in your PaperCut account BEFORE you try to print something.

Add Value Station

You can add money to your PaperCut account balance using cash or credit card at an Add Value Station. 

 

Step 1: Go to an Add Value Station, located near the Copy Room in the Library.  

Step 2: BEFORE inserting money, touch the LCD screen and log in using your student ID #.

Step 3: Select a payment option:

  • Cash: Insert $1 bill or $5 bill or coins (no pennies). Insert exact amount only, no change is given! 
  • Credit card: Swipe your credit card (MasterCard, Visa, AmEX or Discover) in the card reader.
  • ApplePay: Tap your device on the card reader.

You now have value on your PaperCut account balance!

Step 4: Hit the Done button to log off and return the Add Value Station to the home screen.

Step 5: See instructions below for Sending a print job.

If you do not yet have a PayPal account, you can either (A) sign up or (B) sign in as a guest:

A. Create a PayPal account at this website: https://www.paypal.com/us/welcome/signup/#/login_info

screenshot paypal signup

B. Or, sign in as a PayPal Guest by clicking “Pay with Debit or Credit Card.” 

screenshot PayPal guest login

Adding funds to your existing PaperCut account using PayPal:

Step 1:    Log into a student workstation computer with your 10-digit student ID and 8-digit birthdate. 
Step 2:    Click the Details link on the PaperCut icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen to open the PaperCut portal:

screenshot papercut icon

 

Step 3: Log into your PaperCut account, using your 10-digit student ID number for the username and your 8-digit birthdate for the password (MMDDYYYY):

screenshot papercut portal login

 

Step 4: Click the Add Credit link in the left margin to see the Add Credit Using PayPal page, then click dropdown to add value up to $20. Then click green button to Add Value to your account:

screenshot to add value to papercut via paypal

 

Step 5: The next page will be the PayPal interface webpage. Enter your PayPal login information (email and password) and enter your Debit or Credit card information as normal. If you opted to add funds to your account using the PayPal Guest Checkout, you will be brought to the page below.  The dollar amount you selected to add to your account will be displayed in the upper right hand corner of the screen.

screenshot PayPal guest checkout

Step 6: Fill out the form and click “Pay Now” at the bottom of the screen. The funds are now added to your PaperCut Student Print Account! See instructions below for Sending a print job.

 

Step 2: Sending a Print Job

Print jobs can be sent to any PaperCut printer station on campus. Currently jobs can only be sent from networked computers on campus. We hope to have wireless printing soon. 

Sending a print job to a PaperCut printer station from a computer on the campus network:

Step 1.  Log into a student workstation computer: 

  • Username = your student ID number (10 digits) 
  • Password = your birth date (8 digits, MMDDYYYY)   

student workstation login screen

 

Step 2: Look for the PaperCut icon in the top right-hand corner of the computer screen. Your balance will show in the middle of the icon.  The example below shows a balance of $2.60. Be sure to have enough funds in your account before you try to print. If your account has less than you need to print all the pages of your job, see directions above to add money to your account. Otherwise, go to Step 3:

screenshot papercut icon

 

Step 3: Bring up the document(s) you want to print on the screen (via an application like Word, a browser with Google Docs, from a USB, or from your email). 

Step 4: From the document’s dropdown menu, select ‘File’ and then ‘Print.’ 

Step 5: On the next screen, select either the BW (black ink) or Color queue from the printer options. Black ink copies are $.10 and color ink copies are $.50. Make your printer selection then click the ‘Print’ button. 

 

Step 6: A PaperCut pop-up a window will appear asking for your login credentials. Use the same ones you used to log into the computer:

  • Username- your 10-digit student ID number
  • Password- your birth date which is 8 digits (MMDDYYYY).  
  • After entering your credentials, click ‘OK.

papercut login popup window

 

A small pop-up notice will appear in the bottom right corner of the screen indicating the job has been sent to a print release station. 

Step 7: Proceed to the print release station! (See instructions below: How to release a print job )

Sorry, this printing option has not yet been enabled. Stay tuned!

Step 3: Releasing (Printing) a Print Job

Printing out your job from a PaperCut printer station in the Library:

Two printer stations are located adjacent to the Circulation Desk. One is also near the Information Desk. 

Step 1: Go to a PaperCut printer station. These computers will be marked Printer Station and are connected to a networked printer.

Step 2: Enter your 10-digit student ID number on the screen: 

printer release station login

 

Step 3: Select the job(s) you want to print from the queue: 

screenshot print release station job list

Step 4: Gather your printouts from the printer. Once the job prints, money is deducted from your account and the job is removed from the list. Any unselected print jobs will remain in the queue for 4 hours only before they are deleted. 


***Remember to log out of the Printer Station and to log out of the computer you used to send your print job.***

PaperCut Q&A

Common questions and answers about PaperCut:

  • I take classes at City and Mesa colleges. Must I set up a separate account for each? YES
  • How long will my print job stay in the print queue before it is deleted? 4 HOURS 
  • I have a print card from the old pay-to-print system. Can I get a refund? YES. Contact the Student Accounting Office (A-256)
  • Can I print if I'm not a student? NOT YET. The system is tied to student numbers and is not available for guests or employees.  
  • Can I print wirelessly from a personal device? NOT YET
  • Can I add money to my account using a computer that does not have the PaperCut icon on the desktop? NOT YET