Abstract: A printing machine with control device for identifying solid areas to be imaged. The printing machine is regulated on a picture element (pel) basis to produce pels representing the interior of solid areas with an intensity sufficient to create a relatively large development vector and to produce non-solid area pels, such as the edges of solid areas, text, and line pels with an intensity sufficient to create a smaller development vector. In that manner, toner deposit densities are balanced for solid interiors, the edges of solids, test, and lines. A control method is provided for establishing the desired line stroke width, toner density, and exposure level for an electrophotographic printer, and thereafter establishing the exposure level needed to balance toner density in the solid areas with the line toner density.