System and method for adaptively controlling print options

A system and method are provided for adaptively controlling print options in a print system. The method comprises: accepting an imaging job; determining the imaging job characteristics; determining an imaging system's capabilities; matching system capabilities to job characteristics; and, performing the job on an imaging device. Determining job characteristics may involve determining the optimal print media, ink chemistry, or image processing. The imaging job characteristics may be determined by examining the print driver print stream to determine the file type, enacting a user interface dialog with the user, receiving pre-determined imaging job characteristics from a device driver embedded in a PRN image file, or-receiving pre-determined imaging job characteristics from a device driver embedded in a job stream. Determining the system capabilities may include determining the available print media, available inks, available image processes, or imaging device firmware.