Guest Printing in Papercut

Please keep in mind before proceeding:

  • If a person already has an active netid and password, they do not need to create a guest printing account.
  • The minimum amount to add to Paid Credits is $5, and it cannot be refunded back to their credit card. Similarly, any print refunds go back into the printing account and not the credit card.
  • If someone forgets the password to a guest account, there is no self-service password reset option. They will need to contact Technology Services (217-244-7000 or consult@illinois.edu).

Register a new guest account

If this is the first time someone is using a guest account, they first need to register for a new account.

1. At the Papercut login screen, click on the link for “Guest printing using Paid Credits”. Or go directly to https://go.illinois.edu/PrintingGuest.

Screenshot of Papercut login screen with guest printing link highlighted

2. The guest needs to fill out their name, email, a username, and password for the account. All guest accounts begin with the prefix “print-“ plus the username entered, so they will login as “print-[insert username]”.

A screenshot of the guest printing registration page.

3. After filling out the registration information, click Register to create the account. If the username is unique, the account will be created.

4. Click on the Log In link in the left menu or return to the Papercut login page.

5. Enter in the username and password for the guest account. Again, remember to enter “print-“ before the username. All guest accounts start with this prefix.

A screen shot of the Papercut login screen.

6. They should now be logged into Papercut.

Add Paid Credits

Paid Credits can be added to a guest account the same way as for other Papercut users.

1. Click on Add Paid Credits in the left menu.

A screenshot of Papercut screen with Add Paid Credits link highlighted

2. Select an amount to add to the printing account (minimum $5.00) and click Add value.

When adding Paid Credits to an account, please keep in mind:

  • One larger transaction will process more smoothly than frequent smaller transactions. In other words, if a guest plans to print a number of times during a day or visit, one larger upfront transaction will go more smoothly than adding paid credits each time a document is printed.
  • Transactions from international accounts may experience a delay in appearing as paid credits.
  • Extra Paid Credit balance cannot be refunded back to the credit card.

A screenshot of the Add Paid Credits screen.

3. Enter in credit card information and click Pay Now. The service Authorize.net will process the transaction.

A screenshot of the credit card entry page.

4.The credit card will be charged for the amount selected. On the Summary page in Papercut, you can view the Paid Credits available for printing.

5. Once the Paid Credit balance is above zero, you can print documents through Papercut.

Printing files

Printing files through a guest account is the same process as for university accounts using Paid Credits. Guest accounts can print from a library computer or mobile device. Please refer to the online instructions for printing from a library computer and printing from a laptop or mobile device.

Keep in mind:

  • Guest accounts must login with “print-[insert username]” as the username.
  • Double-sided printing is not available from laptop or mobile device printing for any account.