A continuous ink jet printing system capable of printing at multiple predetermined print resolutions. The system comprises a drop generator having an array of nozzles for emitting a plurality of continuous streams of liquid for applying ink to media driven in a media advance direction having a source for pressurized liquid for supplying pressurized liquid to the plurality of nozzles. The plurality of nozzles have effective nozzle diameters D0 and a stimulation device associated with each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles for forming ink drops having predetermined drop volumes from the continuous streams of liquid. The predetermined drop volumes include non-print drops of a unit volume V0, and print drops having volumes that are integer multiples of the unit volume, mV0, wherein m is an integer greater than 1. A catcher collects the non-print drops and a selector selects a predetermined print resolution. Each predetermined print resolution has a corresponding print drop volume mV0.