A real-time surface energy treatment system for a printable substrate including a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy of the printable substrate to enhance wetting and adhesion of an ink to the printable substrate, a full width array sensor arranged to measure at least one print quality characteristic of the ink on the substrate, and a system control in communication with the surface energy modification device and the full width array sensor and arranged to adjust an input power to the surface energy modification device based on the at least one print quality characteristic.