System and method for separating raster data for printing

A system and method for printing an image on a recording medium using vertically aligned printhead having at least one vertical column of nozzles, the image being divided into rows and columns. A raster portion of the image data is selected. The raster data is sectioned into print sections, wherein each print section represents data for one column of nozzles during one scan of the printhead across the print medium. The print sections are grouped into print passes wherein each print pass represents one scan of the printhead across the print medium. Each print pass is rotated and sent to the appropriate channel for printing on the recording medium.