Abstract: A control system for a multi-color computer graphics plotter is disclosed. The control system divides the plot into a plurality of bands and calculates the approximate time required to draw each figure in each band in the required color. An intermediate output from the control system is the approximate total time required to draw each color in the plot. The control system, using a design philosophy of miximizing for the plotter's throughput, decides whether the plot will be completed faster if the plotter is (a) simply driven at its fastest speed, (b) slowed for at least one of the color passes, and (c) coupled to memory; and the entire plot stored temporarily.