A printer with reduced required space for printbar substrates in a printhead is disclosed. A first printbar has of a plurality of first die modules, for applying a first color, spaced apart so as to have gaps between each die module and located on a top surface of a first substrate. A second printbar has of a plurality of second die modules, for applying a second color, different for the first color, spaced apart so as to have gaps between each die module and located on a bottom surface of the first substrate. A third printbar for applying the first color and a fourth printbar for applying the second color, both have die modules, spaced apart on a top surface and a bottom surface of a second substrate, that correspond with the gaps on the top surface and the bottom surface of the first substrate, respectively.