Device and method for printing with curable ink

A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, wherein execution of the computer program by a computing device causes a method to be performed, the method comprising:

• generating an image wise pattern of spaced apart ink droplet locations for representing the image;
• separating the pattern into at least first and second different interleaved portions, each portion comprising a plurality of droplet locations and the droplet locations of each interleaved portion being spaced apart from each other;
• in a first printing pass, depositing ink droplets on the substrate at the drop locations of the first interleaved portion;
• in a final printing pass, depositing ink droplets on the substrate at the droplet locations of the second interleaved portion;
• and
• curing said deposited ink droplets by exposing the deposited ink droplets to curing radiation in a first partial curing step between the first and final printing passes and in a final curing step,
• wherein the first partial curing step is performed only after the first printing pass has been completed,
• wherein no curing is performed in either the first printing pass or the final printing pass,
• and wherein curing of the ink droplets deposited in the final printing pass occurs only during the final curing step.

Apparatus for printing an image on a substrate using a curable ink, the apparatus comprising:

• an ink droplet location unit adapted to generate a pattern of spaced apart ink droplet locations for representing the image and to separate the pattern into at least first and second different interleaved portions, each portion comprising a plurality of droplet locations and the droplet locations of each interleaved portion being spaced apart from each other;
• a print head arranged to deposit ink droplets on the substrate at the drop locations of the first interleaved portion;
• a print head arranged to deposit ink droplets on the substrate at the drop locations of the second interleaved portion;
• and
• curing means for curing said deposited ink droplets by exposing the deposited ink droplets to curing radiation in a first partial curing step between first and final printing passes and in a final curing step,
• wherein the first partial curing step is performed only after the first printing pass has been completed,
• wherein no curing is performed in either the first printing pass or the final printing pass,
• and wherein curing of the ink droplets deposited in the final printing pass occurs only during the final curing step.