In a dot matrix type printer, a method of printing wherein successive lines are printed using a first and second plurality of print wires to print a first line in left to right and a second in right to left printing that is done in two passes over each line. When high-quality printing is required, all print wires are used in both passes with the print head being repositioned, at the start point of the first line by a feed direction adjustment to center the print wires between the previously printed dots, prior to the second pass over the two lines. The result is high-quality printed characters. In normal print, the odd print wires comprise the first plurality of print wires used in the first pass and the even print wire comprise the second plurality used in the second pass over the two lines.