Font sharpening for image output device

1. A method of rendering text in an image forming device comprising:

receiving a page description language (PDL) file for imaging, said PDL file including said text and a text size value;

receiving a user-specified font sharpening threshold, said user-specified font sharpening threshold being a separate value from said text size value;

determining the user-specified font sharpening threshold is a predetermined value and preventing said text from being rendered with a high frequency halftone screen;

when the user-specified font sharpening threshold is not the predetermined value, overriding a previously established font sharpening threshold and substituting said user-specified font sharpening threshold;

comparing said text size value to said user-specified font sharpening threshold;

determining which halftone screen is to be used for said text based on an outcome of said comparison; and

rendering said text with said selected halftone screen based on said outcome of said comparison.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein rendering said text with said halftone screen comprises selecting a halftone screen with a first halftone frequency when the text size value is less than the user-specified font sharpening threshold, and selecting a halftone screen with a second halftone frequency when the text size value is greater than the user-specified font sharpening threshold, said second halftone frequency being lower than said first halftone frequency.

3. A printing system comprising:

a user interface tor entering a user-specific font sharpening threshold;

a raster image processor for generating a halftone image from a digital representation of objects to be printed, said objects including text and said digital representation including a text size value separate from the user-specified font sharpening threshold, said raster image processor programmed to render said text using a halftone screen with a halftone frequency selected based on overriding a previously established font sharpening threshold with said user-specified font sharpening threshold and performing a comparison of the text size value with said user-specified font sharpening threshold input by said user via said user interface, said raster image processor programmed to render said text with low frequency halftone screens without performing the comparison upon receipt of a predetermined user-specified font sharpening threshold; and

a raster output device operatively connected to the raster image processor to generate a visible output image using the halftone image output by the raster image processor.

4. The printing system of claim 3 wherein the user interface comprises an operator panel to receive user input specifying the font sharpening threshold.

5. The printing system of claim 3 wherein the raster output device is an electrophotographic print engine.