Abstract: A system and method for substantially optimizing print quality or throughput based upon user preferences through use of a left spittoon to perform servicing operations on the printhead of a printer. By virtue of the fact that print quality is inversely proportional to throughput, sacrificing one aspect yields an improvement in the other aspect. When a certain printmode is selected, e.g., draft, print, or the like, the throughput associated with printing according to the selected printmode may vary. Accordingly, a user may select to improve either the print quality, the throughput, or a combination thereof through implementation of the auxiliary spittoon to perform servicing operations on the printhead at various times during a printing operation.