Method and system for printhead alignment based on print medium width

An inkjet printer comprising:

• a plurality of printheads in a print zone including a first printhead having a first plurality of inkjets and a second printhead having a second plurality of inkjets;
• a first actuator operatively connected to the first printhead and configured to move the first printhead in a cross-process direction;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the first printhead, the second printhead, and the first actuator, the controller being configured to:
• operate the first actuator to move in a cross-process direction the first printhead from a first position at which only a first portion of the first plurality of inkjets are positioned to eject ink onto a surface of a print medium in the print zone and a second portion of the first plurality of inkjets are not positioned to eject ink onto the surface of the print medium and halt movement of the first printhead at a second position at which both the first portion and the second portion of the first plurality of inkjets are positioned to eject ink onto the print medium and a subset of the first portion of the first plurality of inkjets overlaps in the cross-process direction with a first portion of the second plurality of inkjets in a second printhead;
• and
• operate the plurality of inkjets each printhead of a plurality of printheads including the first plurality of inkjets in the first printhead and the second plurality of inkjets in the second printhead to eject drops of ink across a full width of a document zone on the surface of the print medium while each printhead in the plurality of printheads remains stationary in the cross-process direction.