A closed loop direct position feedback control method and recording apparatus for producing on a recording medium a plurality of successive print lines or otherwise component images. An appendant demarcation device provides for the proper abutting and spacing of each independent print character. The apparatus includes a mechanism (18) for transporting the medium along a path orthogonal to the print head (12), which produces single lines or swaths (3) of print in conjunction with the indexed advance of the medium relative to the print head (12). The transport mechanism (18) is operative to advance a first print line or swath through the recording station (12) to form a first print line, to identify and store the position coordinates of each print line or swath (3), and to advance the recording medium for successive line or swath printing (3). The direct position feedback control apparatus also includes a demarcation sensing and printing device (20), (33) for relative positioning, whereby the distance between the location of any sensed or printed demarcation reference and the next successive print line is controlled such that each print line will neglect the positioning error in any previous print line or swath.