An example of a system to program a neuromodulator to deliver neuromodulation to a neural target using a plurality of electrodes may comprise a programming control circuit configured to determine target energy allocations for the plurality of electrodes based on at least one target pole to provide a target sub-perception modulation field, calibrate a plurality of electrode groups in the plurality of electrodes where each of the plurality of electrode groups is in an electrode configuration and includes an electrode set of at least one electrode from the plurality of electrodes, including for each of the plurality of electrode groups receive a feedback metric to delivery of modulation energy to the neural target, and normalize the target sub-perception modulation field, including determine a space domain scaling factor using the feedback metric to account for actual electrode-tissue coupling, and apply the space domain scaling factor to the target energy allocations.
