Printer with print mode masking of periodic carriage vibration

A printer comprising:

• a movable carriage to carry and position at least one pen over a printing surface;
• and
• a carriage positioning system coupled to move the carriage in individual swaths over the printing surface at a slew rate, the carriage positioning system varying the slew rate at which the carriage is moved to reduce any visual artifacts in print results caused by period vibrations in the shuttle-type printer.

A control system for a shuttle-type printer having a movable carriage which carries and positions at least one pen over a printing surface, the control system comprising:

• a carriage positioning system to move the carriage in swaths over the printing surface at a slew rate, the carriage positioning system starting the carriage at a starting position for individual swaths;
• and
• a component to vary at least one of (1) the starting position for the individual swaths or (2) the slew rate at which the carriage is moved for individual swaths, to reduce any visual artifacts in print results caused by periodic vibrations in the shuttle-type printer.

For a printer that experiences periodic vibration, a method of printing comprising the following steps:

• defining a starting point at which the printer begins printing on a recording media;
• and
• changing the starting point within a predetermined range.

In a shuttle-type printer in which a printing mechanism is moved along a recording media in swaths, a method of printing comprising the step of moving the printing mechanism to a starting position to begin a swath;

• and
• varying the starting position of the printing mechanism for individual swaths.

In a shuttle-type printer in which a printing mechanism is moved along a recording media in swaths, a method of printing comprising the following steps:

• printing at one slew rate in one pass;
• and
• varying the slew rate for a subsequent pass.

A program embodied in a storage media for controlling operation of a shuttle-type printer, comprising instructions for:

• moving the printing mechanism to a starting position to begin a swath;
• and
• varying the starting position printing mechanism for individual swaths.

A program embodied in a storage media for controlling operation of a shuttle-type printer, comprising instructions for:

• printing at one slew rate in one pass;
• and
• varying the slew for a subsequent pass.