Method for printing contiguous swaths

A print system for printing images on an image receiving member in a plurality of swaths, the print system comprising:

• a print head configured to reciprocate in a scanning direction and to apply marking material to the image receiving material in accordance with image data provided to the print head;
• an image processing module for preparing swath image data from the image;
• a transport module for advancing the image receiving member stepwise in a transport direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the scanning direction;
• a processor for defining an advancement step for advancing the image receiving member,
• a position sensor module for determining a position of a swath on the image receiving member relative to the print head position after advancing the image receiving member;
• and
• a digital mask module for defining and applying a digital mask to the swath image data in dependence on the determined position of a swath, the digital mask only being able to block or not block an application of marking material,
• wherein the image processing module prepares first swath image data comprising image data to print a first swath from the image and second swath image data comprising image data to print a second swath from the image, the second swath printed without changing a positional relation between the second swath image data and the print head.

A method for printing an image on an image receiving member in a plurality of swaths, each swath being printed by a print head that reciprocates in a scanning direction, the print head being configured to apply marking material to the image receiving member in accordance with image data provided to the print head and the image receiving member being advanced stepwise in a transport direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the scanning direction, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) preparing first swath image data from the image, the first swath image data comprising image data to print a first swath;
• b) printing the first swath using the first swath image data by the application of a selected part of the print head;
• c) defining an advancement step for advancing the image receiving member, such that, after application of the advancement step, at least a part of the print head overlaps the first swath;
• d) preparing second swath image data from the image, based on the defined advancement step, the second swath image data comprising image data to print a second swath and comprising at least a part of the first swath image data;
• e) advancing the image receiving member in the transport direction using the advancement step;
• f) determining a position of the first swath on the image receiving member relative to the print head position after advancing the image receiving member;
• g) defining, in dependence on the determined position, a digital mask that prevents the application of any marking material from the part of the print head that overlaps the first swath;
• and
• h) printing a second swath with the application of the digital mask on the second swath image data.