Printing system with force control mode

A method of handling a print medium in a printer, the method comprising:

• providing a first roller pair adjacent to a print zone of the printer to advance a print medium into the print zone;
• providing a second roller pair upstream from the first roller pair;
• operating the second roller pair in a position control mode to advance the print medium to the first roller pair;
• and
• switching the second roller pair from the position control mode to a force control mode when a leading edge of the print medium reaches the first roller pair, wherein the second roller pair applies a substantially constant force to the print medium in the force control mode to push the print medium against the first roller pair while the first roller pair is stationary.

A system for advancing a specialty print medium through a printer, the system comprising:

• a first roller pinch adjacent to a print zone of the printer to advance a specialty print medium into the print zone;
• a second roller pinch upstream from the first roller pinch to advance the specialty print medium to the first roller pinch in a position control mode;
• and
• a controller that causes the second roller pinch to switch from the position control mode to a force control mode when a leading edge of the specialty print medium reaches the first roller pinch, wherein the force control mode causes the second roller pinch to push the print medium against the first roller pinch while the first roller pinch is stationary.