One facilitates determination of a path that comprises a plurality of
specific locations (201). In an optional though preferred embodiment
these specific locations comprise locations where a given functional ink
will preferably be printed using a continuous printing spray. Also in an
optional though preferred embodiment this path will also avoid at least
one predetermined area (701) where such a functional ink should not be
printed. In a preferred approach this process (100) generally provides
for identifying (101) these specific locations and further identifying
(102), when applicable, the one or more predetermined areas to be
avoided. This process then preferably uses a processor to effect at least
one (and preferably both) of using (103) a genetic algorithm to identify
a preferred path that includes the plurality of specific locations and
using (104) an A* algorithm to process a candidate path to provide a
selected path that includes the plurality of specific locations while
also avoiding the at least one predetermined area.