generated as the present print job 12 is processed typically the rdc repository 32 includes rdcs obtained from a number of previously processed documents if the pdl interpreter 12 locates an rdc identification in the rdc index 30 that corresponds to the document component with the hint the pdl interpreter 12 pings or otherwise communicates with the rdc repository 32 to 1 verify that the rdc is still contained in the rdc repository 32 and 2 command the rdc repository to preserve the rdc until it is accessed the pdl interpreter 12 also sends the rdc identification to the cimager 16 rather than sending the actual document component the cimager 16 receives the rdc identification and communicates with the rdc repository 32 to retrieve the corresponding compressed pixel map which is then stored in the buffer memory 18 and further processed substantially similarly to the processing of ordinary i e not reusable document components if however the pdl interpreter 12 does not locate the document component in the rdc index 30 it communicates both the document component and an rdc identification to the cimager 16 the cimager processes the document component to generate a compressed pixel map which is stored in the buffer memory 18 and further processed as usual the cimager additionally sends the compressed pixel map along with the rdc identification to the rdc repository 32 for storage for possible reuse the rdc is stored in the rdc repository 32 as a compressed pixel map e g compressed contone data for typical color document components along with the.