Printing system and method

A printing system, comprising:

• a reservoir having a lower wall, at least one side wall and an open upper end, the reservoir being adapted for receiving a volume of liquid ink, the at least one side wall extending vertically and the lower wall extending horizontally so that the volume of ink is held within said reservoir by gravity alone;
• a plurality of pins disposed within the reservoir, each of the pins having a lower end and a tapered upper end terminating in a printing tip, the plurality of pins being arrayed in a plurality of parallel rows within the reservoir, each of the pins extending vertically with respect to the reservoir;
• means for selectively passing a printing substrate over the open upper end of the reservoir;
• and
• means for selectively vertically translating the plurality of pins, such that, in a non-printing state, each of the pins is positioned with the lower end thereof located adjacent the lower wall of the reservoir and the printing tip thereof positioned beneath a surface of the volume of ink within the reservoir, and such that, upon selective vertical translation of one of the pins, the selected pin is translated upwardly, the printing tip carrying ink thereon and contacting the printing substrate to form a dot thereon.