Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic digital control system for printing a pattern onto the surface of a moving substrate in accordance with digitally-defined pattern data using a plurality of individually controllable colorant-dispensing applicators arranged in a series of arrays positioned along the path of said moving substrate, with each array containing a colorant representing a separate process color. The digital control system converts the pattern data, expressed in terms of a color assignment for each individual pattern element comprising the desired pattern, into a series of logical firing instructions for each applicator as required to reproduce the assigned color on the substrate using one or more process colors.