Apparatus and process for controlling ink in a continuous ink jet printer in which a continuous stream of ink is emitted from a nozzle includes a droplet generator which causes the stream to break up into a plurality of droplets with an adjustable drop break off position having at least (1) a first drop break off position spaced from the nozzle and (2) a second drop break off position spaced from the first drop break off position. A stream deflector adjacent to the stream between the first drop break off position and the second drop break off position controls the direction of the stream between a print direction and a non-print direction. A charging apparatus is associated with the ink delivery channel to electrically charge the ink stream. The stream deflector includes at least one deflection electrode; and a deflection control circuit is adapted to apply a constant DC voltage to the deflection electrode to deflect droplets from one of the print and non-print directions to the other of the print and non-print directions.