A method for applying ink at a print position of a recording medium, using at least two print heads, mounted on a scanning print carriage, each comprising a series of print elements, a first print head ejecting ink of a first color and a second print head ejecting ink of a second color, the second color having a light to invisible color, the print position being scanned over by each print head in a main scanning direction in such a way that there are at least two opportunities for one of the print elements of each print head to apply a droplet of ink at said print position, a first opportunity in a first pass using a first print element occurring before a second opportunity in a second pass using a second print element and applying a relative displacement in a sub-scanning direction between the print heads and the recording medium between the at least two passes, the method comprising the steps of: a) determining a list of failing print elements that are not capable of applying an ink droplet as required; b) if a failing print element is not a first print element of the first print head passing a line of print positions extending in the main scanning direction, and the first print element is not a failing print element, controlling other print elements of the first print head, including the first print element of the first print head, to provide missing ink that would be applied by the failing print element to the respective print positions; c) if a failing print element is the first print element passing a line of print positions extending in the main scanning direction, and the second print element is not a failing print element, controlling a print element of the second print head to apply an amount of ink at respective print positions where the failing print element would apply ink, in the same pass as the failing print element passes said positions and, in addition, controlling a second print element of the first print head to apply in a second pass the missing ink that would have been applied by the failing print element to the respective print positions, wherein the ink of the second color is applied by the second print head only in step c. a) determining a list of failing print elements that are not capable of applying an ink droplet as required; b) if a failing print element is not a first print element of the first print head passing a line of print positions extending in the main scanning direction, and the first print element is not a failing print element, controlling other print elements of the first print head, including the first print element of the first print head, to provide missing ink that would be applied by the failing print element to the respective print positions; c) if a failing print element is the first print element passing a line of print positions extending in the main scanning direction, and the second print element is not a failing print element, controlling a print element of the second print head to apply an amount of ink at respective print positions where the failing print element would apply ink, in the same pass as the failing print element passes said positions and, in addition, controlling a second print element of the first print head to apply in a second pass the missing ink that would have been applied by the failing print element to the respective print positions,