Abstract: A high-speed printer, such as a daisy wheel printer, utilizes a carriage which transports a printing font, such as a daisy wheel, laterally along a print line adjacent a paper-supporting platen. An ink ribbon is supported on the machine frame rather than the printing font carriage and is positioned between the daisy wheel and the platen. This ribbon is adjusted so that, as the printing font progresses along a print line, it impacts the ribbon along the line which is slanted relative the lengthwise axis of the ribbon. When plural such slanted printing tracks are overlapped along the length of the ribbon, efficient use is made of the ribbon without incurring problems associated with a narrowed ribbon. In addition, the slanted ribbon impact line permits the ribbon to be mounted on the machine main frame rather than on the font carriage while still permitting a minimum of over-impacting on the ribbon, all while eliminating the requirement of rapid ribbon movement during carriage return.