Looking for a way to modify the default printer presets i.e. the presets called “Standard” in OS X I came across a Mac OS X Hints article that talks about the ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.print.custompresets.plist file.

However, what I found way more interesting is that apparently OS X provides a web interface for CUPS at http://localhost:631/ for the locally installed printers.

Through that interface you can nicely modify the default printer presets. Just go to http://localhost:631/printers/ -> choose your printer -> select Set Default Options in the second drop-down. You’ll be asked for an administrator’s username/password to save the changes. No surprise there.