System and method for improving print quality on mail pieces having low reflectivity

A mail processing system comprising:

• a controller to control operation of the system, the system transporting a mail piece along a path of travel;
• a reflectance meter coupled to the controller to determine a reflectivity of the mail piece being transported;
• a printer coupled to the controller to print an image;
• and
• a plurality of ink supplies coupled to the printer to provide ink to the printer, each of the plurality of ink supplies providing a different colored ink to the printer,
• wherein the controller is adapted to determine if, based on the determined reflectivity of the mail piece, printing the image using a first colored ink from the plurality of inks will provide sufficient contrast between the image and the mail piece for reading the image, and if printing the image directly on the mail piece with the first colored ink will provide sufficient contrast between the image and the mail piece for reading the image, causing the printer to print the image directly on the mail piece with the first colored ink;
• and if printing the image directly on the mail piece with the first colored ink will not provide sufficient contrast between the image and the mail piece for reading the image, causing the printer to print a reverse of the image on the mail piece using a second colored ink from the plurality of inks.