1. A method for controlling a digital printing system, comprising: receiving digital image data for an image region to be printed by the digital printing system; designating an image region database stored in a processor-accessible memory including data characterizing a plurality of reference image regions, each reference image region having one or more associated system control parameters that are appropriate for use in printing the reference image region on the digital printing system; using a data processing system to compare the image region to be printed with the reference image regions in the image region database and select a reference image region that is sufficiently similar to the image region to be printed; and using the digital printing system to print the received digital image data for the image region by applying one or more colorants onto a print medium, wherein the digital printing system includes an electrophotographic printing module that is controlled using the system control parameters associated with the selected similar reference image region during the printing of at least a subset of the image region.