A method of reducing uneven use of the total number of printing elements on a print head in a printer, when selectively using the printing elements to make different size color image prints on respective similar size receiver mediums, comprises: selectively using the total number of printing elements to make color image prints substantially the same size as the receiver mediums; and selectively using a particular number of printing elements less than the total number of printing elements to make similar size color image prints smaller than the receiver mediums, but alternating which ones of the total number of printing elements can be selectively used to make each print so that the placement of each print on a receiver medium is alternated, whereby, since those printing elements that can be selectively used to make each print smaller than a receiver medium are alternated, uneven use of the printing elements is reduced.