A method and system of controlling at least one printbar in a printing system are described. The printing system has one or more of printbars distributed along a media transport. A first image including a reference pattern is generated on a print medium with a first printbar. A pattern is then detected on the print medium. The reference pattern and the detected pattern are used to determine a position of the first image relative to a second printbar. This position is used to configure nozzle data for a second image to be generated on the print medium by the second printbar.

A printing apparatus comprises: a printer that includes a printing mechanism that performs printing on a printing medium, the printing mechanism being provided in a print area; a housing that includes an opening region for exposing the printing mechanism to outside; and a guiding mechanism that represents a position of the print area. The guiding mechanism is provided at a position directly above the print area and visible from outside. Accordingly, when a user performs printing on the printing medium using this printing apparatus, the user can easily grasp a position of the print area by means of the guiding mechanism, and therefore can print on a desired position on the printing medium.

A method and system of controlling at least one printbar in a printing system are described. The printing system has one or more of printbars (160, 190) distributed along a media transport. A first image including a reference pattern (240A, 240B) is generated on a print medium (150) with a first printbar (160). A detector (180) then detects a pattern on the print medium. The reference pattern and the detected pattern are used to determine a position of the first image relative to a second printbar (190). This position is used to configure nozzle data for a second image to be generated on the print medium by the second printbar.

A movement unit moves a reading unit in a first direction and a second direction. A control unit controls the movement unit so that the reading unit is positioned in a predetermined region in a case when a transition is made from an operation mode to a non-operation mode and controls the movement unit to cause the reading unit to move from the predetermined region to a position at which a white reference plate can be read in a case when a transition is made from the non-operation mode to the operation mode. The control unit causes movement of the reading unit by the movement unit to stop when a movement amount of the reading unit measured by a measurement unit becomes a movement amount corresponding to a distance from the boundary to a position at which a white reference plate can be read.