1. A dot matrix printing method for printing an image on a printing medium by means of a printing head comprising a first number n of marking elements, the method comprising printing the image as a set of N sub-images, N being a number C of colours used for printing multiplied by a number I of interlacing steps and multiplied by a number P of mutually interstitial printing steps (N&equals;C*I*P), where the number I of interlacing steps is greater than 1, each interlacing step generating an interlaced sub-image, a swath of an interlaced sub-image being printed during a printing pass, there being at least one linear relative movement between the printing medium and the printing head over a uniform transport distance TD in a slow scan direction between the printing of two subsequently printed swaths of interlaced sub-images, the transport distance TD being uniform for all linear relative movements, wherein printing is carried out with a subset of the n marking elements, the subset of marking elements being changed after I printing passes.