An image recording apparatus (2000) is disclosed, which includes forming elements (2002) for forming an image, a memory (2006) indicating relative desirability of utilizing the forming elements (2002) for forming the image, and processing unit (2008) for computing image recording signals using input image signals (2012) and the stored data. The use of a particular forming element is thereby biased dependent upon the relative desirability data for the other forming elements and the corresponding input image signals for the other forming elements.