Abstract: A printer performs both the processing and printing tasks efficiently using controller firmware with a single data path (i.e., one ASIC). The printer has a periodic print cycle in which data for one page or plane (if multi-colored) is printed during each cycle. The print cycle is typically longer than the time needed to print one page or plane. Thus, the print cycle can be segmented into a “printing phase” in which the printing mechanism prints data, and a “non-printing” phase in which the printing mechanism does not print data. The controller firmware interleaves printing operations with non-printing operations during the printing and non-printing phases of the print cycle, respectively. During the printing phase, the controller is dedicated to printing a page or plane. During the non-printing phase, the controller is free to perform other tasks, such as compressing raster data for subsequent printing.