Printing on canvas question

Using a printer like the canon prograf series pro 2100 upward for example or any other canvas printer, if I print a single solid red circle in the middle of the canvas will the entire canvas be printed in white ink and then the red circle will be printed on top the white ink or can the printer lay color only for the red circle and leave the rest of the canvas untouched?

I have looked all over the net and youtube and everyone prints out the entire sheet of canvas leaving nothing blank. I cannot find this answer anywhere. I hope someone on here who has experience can help me out.