Load balancing for raster image processing across a printing system

摘要

A method and apparatus which dynamically determines if the raster image processing (RIP) for a print job data file is more efficiently performed by the host computer (12) or by the printer (14) in a printing system (10). The entire printing process is monitored and, based on a model for estimating the time required for various component print processes, a determination (66) is made where the raster processing of the print data for the next print job should be performed to balance the processing load across the printing system (10) to best utilize the maximum printing speed of the printer print engine (26).