necessary to maintain input densities is determined at 120 the color marking device is halftoned using the determined minimum color output coverages in such a manner each of the input c in m in y in and k in have been converted to an output coverage amount necessary to achieve the smoothest halftone in order to simplify the discussion hereof several assumptions are made first it is assumed that any c m and y overlapping is replaced by a dot of k colorant second no other colorant is allowed to overlap with a dot of colorant k one skilled in this art would understand that these two assumptions are typical of solid ink printers these assumptions should not be viewed as limiting if necessary these two constraints can be removed it is also assumed that the ink coverage range of each colorant is scaled from 0 to 100 reference is now being made to fig2 illustrating one embodiment of the input cmyk to output cmykrgb conversion at 202 the present method first receives c in m in y in and k in channel inputs these inputs comprise the cmy primaries and a black colorant such inputs are received in one example through a scanning process known in the arts or alternatively received through a process of direct measurement by measurement devices known in the arts such inputs may additionally be retrieved from a storage device or received as signals over a network one skilled in this art would appreciated the exact nature of the received channel inputs will depend on the system environment wherein the present invention will finds its intended uses at 204 a determination is made whether any of the primary c in m in.