A method and apparatus for adjusting estimated ink pile height to reduce the frequency and effects of a defect known as a halo defect. An estimated ink pile height profile of ink to be deposited on a surface in an area of image data having a foreground and a background is determined. The estimated ink pile height profile has a foreground color area including a top color component and at least one non-top color component in the foreground. Then, the estimated height profile is adjusted if the difference between the pile heights of the foreground and background is greater than a threshold condition.