a memory use and management method and system for a multi - pass printer . the system has a band buffer , a band buffer manager and a print engine . the band buffer receives and masks an input data , and stores masked data resulting from masking the input data . the band buffer manager is connected to the band buffer in order to start to print the masked data as the band buffer stores an amount of one complete print pass for a printhead of the printer . the print engine has the printhead and is connected to the band buffer such that the print engine receives the masked data from the band buffer and prints it by the printhead . data amount stored in the band buffer can be represented by an equation , /]* s , where j indicates partitioned number of one complete print , and s indicates data amount required by one complete print .