A method of printing a desired color onto a nonwhite substrate by additive printing of intermixed translucent color ink and opaque white ink , comprising: selecting a number of print layers, characterized by : printing at least a first layer of ink, by ejecting droplets of inks , onto the nonwhite substrate comprising a first mixture of an opaque white ink and at least one translucent color ink , the first layer of ink having a predetermined first ratio of white ink to color ink being less than or equal to 1:1, an amount of white ink being less than or equal to an amount of color ink ; printing at least a second layer of ink, by ejecting droplets of inks , onto the nonwhite substrate comprising a second mixture of the opaque white ink and the at least one translucent color ink , the second layer of ink having a predetermined second ratio of white ink to color ink being less than or equal to 1:1, an amount of white ink being less than or equal to an amount of color ink ; and varying the first ratio and the second ratio as a function of the number of layers, wherein the first ratio and the second ratio are equal, and wherein a sum of the first printed layer and second printed layer produces the desired color being optically indistinguishable in the visible spectrum from the same color printed onto a white substrate using opaque color inks. selecting a number of print layers, characterized by : printing at least a first layer of ink, by ejecting droplets of inks , onto the nonwhite substrate comprising a first mixture of an opaque white ink and at least one translucent color ink , the first layer of ink having a predetermined first ratio of white ink to color ink being less than or equal to 1:1, an amount of white ink being less than or equal to an amount of color ink ; printing at least a second layer of ink, by ejecting droplets of inks , onto the nonwhite substrate comprising a second mixture of the opaque white ink and the at least one translucent color ink , the second layer of ink having a predetermined second ratio of white ink to color ink being less than or equal to 1:1, an amount of white ink being less than or equal to an amount of color ink ; and varying the first ratio and the second ratio as a function of the number of layers, printing at least a first layer of ink, by ejecting droplets of inks , onto the nonwhite substrate comprising a first mixture of an opaque white ink and at least one translucent color ink , the first layer of ink having a predetermined first ratio of white ink to color ink being less than or equal to 1:1, an amount of white ink being less than or equal to an amount of color ink ; printing at least a second layer of ink, by ejecting droplets of inks , onto the nonwhite substrate comprising a second mixture of the opaque white ink and the at least one translucent color ink , the second layer of ink having a predetermined second ratio of white ink to color ink being less than or equal to 1:1, an amount of white ink being less than or equal to an amount of color ink ; and varying the first ratio and the second ratio as a function of the number of layers, wherein the first ratio and the second ratio are equal, and wherein a sum of the first printed layer and second printed layer produces the desired color being optically indistinguishable in the visible spectrum from the same color printed onto a white substrate using opaque color inks. <EOS>