This invention concerns the control of firing pulse duration in a printhead, for a printer, such as a high performance color printer. The invention, in particular concerns a control system and a method. The printer may use, for instance, a pagewidth drop-on-demand inkjet printhead. The system and method involve a first input port to receive a signal indicative of the voltage available. A second input port to receive a signal indicative of the temperature of the printhead in the printer. A programmable pulse duration table, indexed by signals received at the first and second input ports, to generate control signals that represent predetermined durations for a firing pulse. And an output port to transmit the control signals.