Methods, systems and software are disclosed for embedding and using rendering hints in a bitmap image. Print objects (204)(304) are determined by an application (202)(302). In a modified bitmap driver process (208)(308), internal objects are formed, and rendering hints are assigned to each internal object (410). These rendering hints are embedded in the output bitmap image (210)(310) without increasing its size by reusing selected bit planes (314)(440). Output quality is maintained by reusing the least significant bit planes and then masking those planes (622) during the output device (firmware) RIP process (630).