Method and apparatus for printing a test pattern

A method of setting an operational parameter of a printing device comprising the steps of:

• determining the size of a print medium presently loaded in the printing device;
• adjusting, in accordance with the determined size of the print medium, the relative position on the print medium of a plurality of elements of a test pattern to be printed;
• printing the test pattern on the print medium;
• determining from the printed test pattern a value for the operational parameter of the printing device;
• and
• setting the operational parameter of the printer to said determined value.

A printing apparatus having a settable operational parameter, the apparatus comprising:

• a print engine capable of receiving instructions to print data;
• a media advancing mechanism into which print media is loadable;
• a media measurer for measuring the size of loaded print media;
• a memory for storing a printable test pattern having a plurality of separable elements;
• and
• a processor having an input for receiving size data regarding the presently loaded print medium from the media measurer and an output to the print engine for passing instructions to print a test pattern,
• wherein the processor, in use, formats the plurality of separable elements of the test pattern relative to each other so that the whole test pattern when printed expends a substantially minimum amount of print media.