Minimizing printhead differential and methods thereof

A method for minimizing stitch zone differential between adjacent print heads in a production ink jet system, comprising:

• printing a first test patch onto a first print at one or more halftone levels using a print head array comprising a first print head and a second print head;
• scanning the first test patch;
• calculating an average density of jets near a mating edge of the first print head and a mating edge of the second print head;
• and
• adjusting a drive voltage for the first print head to move an average print density of the first print head at the mating edge of the first print head towards an average print density of the mating edge of the second print head.

A printing system for minimizing stitch zone differentials between adjacent print heads in a production ink jet printer, comprising:

• at least three print heads arranged in an array configured to print aqueous ink in an interlaced manner and form a single pass of printed image;
• a scanner configured for measuring an average print density of each print head near a stitching area of each print head;
• and
• a non-transitory storage media configured to execute an algorithm that adjusts drive voltages based on measurements of the scanner to minimize stitch zone differentials between adjacent print heads.