Patent ID: 8851638

Claim:
A continuous ink jet printing system capable of printing at multiple predetermined print resolutions comprising: a) a drop generator having an array of nozzles for emitting a plurality of continuous streams of liquid for applying ink to media driven in a media advance direction having: i) a source for pressurized liquid for supplying pressurized liquid to the plurality of nozzles; and ii) a stimulation device associated with each nozzle of the array of nozzles for forming ink drops having predetermined drop volumes from the continuous streams of liquid, wherein the predetermined drop volumes include non-print drops of a unit volume V 0 , and print drops having volumes mV 0 , wherein the print drop ratio m is an integer greater than 1; b) a catcher to collect the non-print drops; and c) a selector for selecting a predetermined print resolution, wherein each predetermined print resolution has a corresponding print drop volume mV 0 with a distinct value of the print drop ratio m.