A method and apparatus are providing for controlling the drop volume of a thermal fluid jet fluid ejecting head. The fluid ejecting head has a plurality of drop ejectors, each of the plurality of drop ejectors has a heating element activated in response to input signals to eject an ink droplet from the fluid ejecting head. The method includes the steps of applying a plurality of print signals to the fluid ejecting head, the plurality of print signals corresponding to an image for the fluid jet assembly to create, applying at least two pre-pulse signals of different duration to the fluid ejecting head, and using the at least two pre-pulse signals and the plurality of print signals to activate the heating elements so that a desired drop volume results.