Abstract: A printhead capable of printing in multiple print modes is herein disclosed. The printhead includes multiple pens that are movable independent of one another. The collective line of the multiple pens is wider than a sheet of recording media upon which an image is to be printed and provides for at least some overlap between the respective pens. The pens of the printhead may be aligned so as to accommodate malfunctioning printing elements in one or more of the pens. Where malfunctions in the respective pens are such that the pens may not be arranged so as to print an image on the recording media across the full width of thereof, the pens may be arranged to operate as a serial type printhead in which a media handling mechanism moves the recording media past the printhead multiple times to effect printing of the image.

Abstract: A media print system includes two or more printhead carriages adapted to print on a medium in a print area, the print area including two or more print regions. Each of the printhead carriages is adapted to print in one or more of the print regions. The system also includes a controller adapted to reconfigure a positioning of the two or more printhead carriages in a configuration selected from a predetermined set of configurations. The controller is adapted to reconfigure the positioning each time a predetermined criterion is satisfied.