Derivation of multicolor text colorant limits from single color text colorant limit

A method for a printing device, wherein the method determines the maximum amount of colorant to be deposited on a specific region of print media to form an image with a reduced quantity of visual defects, and wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• a. inputting a primary colorant value for a single colorant for a single color region of print media, wherein the primary colorant value indicates a percentage of a primary colorant to be applied by the printing device;
• b. inputting a secondary colorant value for two single colorants for a two color region of print media, wherein the combined value of the two single colorants indicates a combined percentage of two single colorants to be applied by the printing device;
• c. deriving one or more combined color limits, one for each of the number of colorants that can be applied to a single color region of print media according to a text ink limit algorithm;
• and
• d. applying each derived color ink limit for the image to limit the quantity of ink used by the printing device when one of the derived colorant limits is exceeded, and
• wherein the step of deriving of the colorant limit for each color utilizes an equation Li=L(i-1)*(1+ai), wherin 0≦ai≦a(i-1)≦1, wherin Li represents the colorant limit when i number of colorants are applied to the specific region of the print media, wherein L(i-1) represents the colorant limit when (i−1) number of colorants are applied to the specific region of the print media, wherein ai represents the incremental amount of additional colorant that is applied when i number of colorants is increased by one to reach a maximum number of colorants i, wherein a(i-1) represents the incremental increase in the amount of colorants that can be applied when (i−1) number of colorants are applied to a specific region of the print media, and wherein i≧2.