Abstract: This invention relates to an improved wide format color digital print engine, and in particular to a cooperating group of print engine sub-assemblies comprising a sealable enclosure defining electronics and printing sub-spaces within the enclosure and supporting two critical alignment plates which alone control alignment of all major sub-assemblies of the print engine and which provide accurate attachment points for a carriage drive and rail sub-assembly, a motor and drum mounted to rotate within a printing bay, and mounting points for a service station for cleaning and storing a plurality of marking elements associated with replaceable ink emitting cartridges. The subassemblies cooperate to generate high quality colored images as a drum-based large format digital ink jet print engine.