System and method for compensating for registration errors arising from heated rollers in a moving web printing system

A method compensates for thermal expansion of rollers in a web print zone. The method includes receiving an angular velocity signal from a first encoder for a roller in a print zone of a moving web printing system, receiving a signal from a first temperature sensor corresponding to a temperature of the roller, modifying a first diameter for the first roller with a first predetermined distance in response to the temperature of the first roller being different than a first predetermined temperature, identifying a velocity of a moving web in the print zone of the moving web printing system with reference to the modified first diameter, and delivering a firing signal to a first printhead proximate the first roller to energize the inkjet nozzles in the first printhead and eject ink onto the web at a position corresponding to the identified moving web velocity.