Abstract: An improved print mode and system for alleviating wait-banding is disclosed. In the disclosed print mode, the delay between print scans may be increased or decreased at the full swath boundaries. Within a full swath, the delay between passes is set at a standard default delay. At the full swath boundary, if a low-memory condition is sensed or if there is a need to perform a service routine, the delay is ramped up. If there is currently not a low-memory condition or if there is not a need for a pen service, the delay is ramped down. This print mode provides that the print passes are more uniformly distributed in time, thus alleviating wait-banding. This print mode is particularly advantageous for glossy medium and transparencies.

Abstract: A printer control method and apparatus are provided whereby print media feed and printhead carriage acceleration are overlapped in order to optimize the time which a printer spends preparing to print. The printhead carriage is accelerated at a time which has been determined to provide for concurrent completion of printhead carriage acceleration and media feed. This typically is accomplished by periodically previewing print data stored in memory for use in identifying a duration of time required to accelerate the printhead carriage to printing velocity and a duration of time required to advance the print medium. The difference between these times determines when to begin printhead carriage acceleration.