A method and apparatus for reducing intercolor bleed using pixel spot size control to improve print quality is provided. The method includes printing pixels having a first spot size in an image region having a boundary between a first color portion and a second color portion of the image by ejecting first sized ink drops from the printhead nozzles, and printing border pixels having spot sizes smaller than the first spot size in the image region by ejecting smaller ink drops from the printhead nozzles, wherein the smaller ink drops are smaller than the first sized ink drops. A printing system is provided having means for printing pixels in the region having the first spot size and means for printing border pixels having spot sizes smaller than the first spot size.