A print engine is provided which has a printhead capable of printing a maximum of n channels of print data and a controller. Each channel is associated with rows of printing nozzles of the printhead. The controller controls the printhead to print in: a first mode, in which the printhead receives from the controller, print data for a first number of the channels; and a second mode, in which the printhead receives from the controller, print data for a second number of the channels less than the first number and dummy data for a portion of each nozzle row associated with the remaining number of the channels. The first number is less than n.