Method and system for correcting color shift caused by printing with an imaging system using multiple cartridges

An imaging system that performs correction of a color shift caused by printing with a first cartridge and a second cartridge different from said first cartridge, comprising:

• a print engine configured to mount said first cartridge and said second cartridge;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to said print engine, said controller executing instructions to:
• retrieve first cartridge signature color data and second cartridge signature color data from a first memory accessible by said imaging system;
• retrieve first cartridge reference output data and second cartridge reference output data from a second memory accessible by said imaging system;
• retrieve cross-variation data from said second memory, said cross-variation data being descriptive of a combined colorant output variation of a usage combination of said first cartridge and said second cartridge relative to a colorant output of each of said first cartridge and said second cartridge individually;
• and
• determine colorant increment data based on said cross-variation data, said first cartridge signature color data, said second cartridge signature color data, said first cartridge reference output data, and said second cartridge reference output data.

A method of correcting color shift caused by printing with multiple cartridges, comprising:

• determining individual cartridge signature colors;
• computing relative colorant variation matrices of individual cartridges;
• estimating cross-variation factor matrices among different types of cartridges;
• and
• modifying a lookup table for color correction.