A liquid jet is modulated using a drop formation device to selectively cause portions of the liquid jet to break off into drop pairs and third drops traveling along a path. The third drop is larger than the drops of the drop pair. A charging device and the drop formation device are synchronized to produce a first charge to mass ratio on a first drop of the drop pair, produce a second charge to mass ratio on a second drop of the drop pair, and produce a third charge to mass ratio on the third drop. A deflection device causes the first drop having the first charge to mass ratio to travel along a first path, the second drop having the second charge to mass ratio to travel along a second path, and the third drop having a third charge to mass ratio to travel along a third path.