Color printer color control system using dual mode banner color test sheets

In a color printer for printing multiple print jobs comprising sequentially printed color sheets, said color printer having a banner sheet printing system for automatically printing banner sheets preceding respective said print jobs, said banner sheets having printed thereon identifying information relating to said print jobs, and said color printer having an output path for outputting said printed color sheets in a process direction, the improvement in said color printer comprising:

• a printed colors measurement system, said printed colors measurement system including a spectrophotometer mounted in said output path and a color test prints generation system for periodically printing multiple different color test patches on special said printed color sheets being printed and outputted through said output path as printed color test sheets, said spectrophotometer being adapted to sense said different colors printed on said color test patches on said printed color test sheets in said output path,
• wherein at least a plurality of said printed color test sheets printed by said color printer with said multiple different color test patches are dual mode sheets comprising said banner sheets printed by said banner sheet printing system with said identifying information printed thereon relating to said print jobs, and
• wherein said banner sheet printing system and said color test prints generation system are coordinated so that said banner sheet printed identifying information and said multiple different color test patches are printed in different areas of said dual mode sheets so as to not overprint one another.