Method to provide optimum optical contrast for registration mark detection

A method of achieving optical contrast between an image carrying media having a certain reflectivity value and a plurality of marking materials having a reflectivity value, comprising the steps of:

• determining the reflectivity value of the image carrying media;
• determining the reflectivity value for each of the plurality of marking materials;
• depositing a uniform pattern, based on the determined reflectivity values of the image carrying media and the plurality of marking materials, of at least one of the marking materials having a reflectivity value contrasting from the determined reflectivity values of the image carrying media when not all of the marking materials have a determined reflectivity value different from the image carrying media reflectivity value;
• depositing a geometric pattern, based on the determined reflectivity values of the image carrying media and a remaining plurality of marking materials, with the remaining plurality of marking materials having a reflectivity value that does not contrast with the image carrying media reflectivity value, over the uniform pattern of the one contrasting marking material so as to obtain maximum optical contrast;
• creating a void, comprising an absence of marking material, in the uniform pattern of the contrasting marking material in a geometric pattern substantially equivalent to the geometric pattern of the plurality of non-contrasting marking materials so that a contrasting mark of high contrast toner and the image carrying media is created.