A system and method for printing on media includes a printhead assembly, a memory, and a controller. The printhead assembly is configured to make physical print sweeps relative to print regions of the media and to print within the print regions during the physical print sweeps. The memory communicates with the printhead assembly and is configured to receive data associated with a logical print sweep. The data associated with the logical print sweep controls printing within a first print region of the media during a corresponding first physical print sweep. The controller communicates with the printhead assembly and memory. The controller initiates the first physical print sweep of the printhead assembly before all of the data associated with the logical print sweep is received by the memory.