System and method for tone reproduction curve color resolution enhancement in a three-dimensional object printer

A three-dimensional object printer comprising:

• a plurality of inkjets configured to eject ink onto a surface of a three-dimensional printed object in a print zone;
• a memory;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the plurality of inkjets and the memory, the controller being configured to:
• generate a first tone reproduction curve (TRC) having a first plurality of entries with a first precision, the first plurality of entries being generated with reference to a second plurality of entries having a second precision stored in the memory, the controller modifying the second plurality of entries by a first value generated within a predetermined range prior to being used to generate the first plurality of entries, the second precision being greater than the first precision;
• generate a second TRC having a third plurality of entries with the first precision, the third plurality of entries being generated with reference to the second plurality of entries, the controller modifying the second plurality of entries by a second value generated within the predetermined range prior to being used to generate the third plurality of entries, the second value being different than the first value;
• receive input contone image data corresponding to an image to be printed by the printer;
• generate first contone image data for a first plane of a multi-layer printed image with reference to the input contone image data and the first TRC;
• generate first halftone image data with reference to the first contone image data and a predetermined halftone process;
• operate the plurality of inkjets to form a first layer of the multi-layer printed image on the surface of the three-dimensional printed object with reference to the first halftone image data;
• generate second contone image data for a second plane of the three-dimensional printed image with reference to the input contone image data and the second TRC;
• generate second halftone image data with reference to the second contone image data and the predetermined halftone process, the second halftone image data being different than the first halftone image data;
• and
• operate the plurality of inkjets to form a second layer of the multi-layer printed image on the first layer with reference to the second halftone image data.