Abstract: A system and method for employing a digital representation of a color image to be printed in a printing system is provided. The method includes generating at least one raster representation of the color image to be printed and a run length representation of the color image wherein the high resolution representation includes a plurality of files, each file storing information representing a single color to be printed; and a run length file including at least the run length information of the color to be printed. Preferably, each one of the plurality of files including at least an indication for each pixel whether to print the raster representation or the run length representation. The method also includes providing the raster representation and the run length representation to printing apparatus.