1. A method for creating a printer model which maps device dependent color space representations of reference colors to device independent color space representations of the reference colors for a direct marking color printer including a plurality of colorants, the direct marking color printer including an image receiving surface configured to move in a process direction associated with the direct marking color printer, and the direct marking color printer including a first colorant array of printheads arranged in a cross-process direction to deposit a first colorant marking material onto the image receiving surface and a second colorant array of printheads arranged in a cross-process direction to deposit a second colorant marking material onto the image receiving surface, the first colorant array of printheads and the second colorant array of printheads offset in the process direction, and each printhead including a plurality of ink jets, the method comprising: a) generating a color calibration pattern including a plurality of device dependent color space representations of reference colors, the color calibration pattern including a predetermined width associated with the cross-process direction and a predetermined length associated with the process direction, the predetermined width less than or equal to a cross-process width associated with each printhead; b) printing the color calibration pattern using a first printhead associated with the first colorant array and a first printhead associated with the second colorant array, the first printheads substantially aligned along a process direction axis and offset from each other; c) printing the color calibration pattern using a second printhead associated with the first colorant array and a second printhead associated with the second colorant array, the second printheads substantially aligned along a process direction axis and offset from each other; d) generating device independent color space representations of the color calibration pattern for the first printhead and the second printhead; and e) generating a printer model for the direct marking color printer which maps the plurality of device dependent color space representations of the color calibration pattern to device independent color space representations of the color calibration pattern reference colors.