Printer with reduced memory

A printing apparatus comprising:

• a) first memory means having a starting address and an ending address for receiving and storing image description data representing one swath of data to be printed;
• b) second memory means having a starting address and an ending address for storing bitmap data;
• c) third memory means having a starting address and an ending address for storing compressed bitmap data;
• d) means for converting image description data to bitmap data by processing at least some of the image description data stored in the first memory means and storing the bitmap data in the second memory means;
• e) means for compressing the bitmap data stored in the second memory means;
• f) means for printing the compressed bitmap data stored in the third memory means;
• and
• g) means for controlling the printing apparatus comprising:
• i) sensing when the end of a swath of image description data is stored in the first memory means or the first memory means is full;
• ii) causing the converting means to convert image description data from the first memory means to bitmap data;
• iii) storing the bitmap data in the second memory means;
• iv) causing the means for compressing to compress the bitmap data in the second memory means;
• v) storing the compressed bitmap data in the third memory means;
• vi) sensing when the third memory means is full;
• vii) causing the printing means to print the compressed bitmap data once the third memory means is sensed as being full in step vi.