A method for controlling printer color is provided. The method includes receiving cartridge color density data, such as from analysis of a test patch printed by the cartridge, and reference cartridge data, such as from analysis of a test patch printed and measured in accordance with a color standard. The color density data of the cartridge test patch is then mapped to the color density data of the reference cartridge test patch to generate mapped color density data, such as a look-up table that provides a dot activation for the cartridge that generates the same color density for a known dot activation for the reference cartridge. The mapped color density data is then used to control color density for printing a set of image data.