A method and apparatus for an electrophotographic color printer (200, 300, 400, 500). The method of developing a color image onto a photoconductor (212, 214, 312, 314, 316, 412, 414, 416, 512, 514) includes providing at least two photoconductors (212, 214, 312, 314, 316, 412, 414, 416, 512, 514) and at least three developing stations (231, 232, 233, 331, 332, 333, 334, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535) such that the number of developing (231, 232, 233, 331, 332, 333, 334, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535) stations is greater than the number of photoconductors (212, 214, 312, 314, 316, 412, 414, 416, 512, 514). The method also includes discharging the photoconductors (212, 214, 312, 314, 316, 412, 414, 416, 512, 514) so as to produce at least two patterns on at least one photoconductor and at least one pattern on at least one photoconductor, then developing each pattern with a respective toner and combining the patterns to form a multi-color finished image.

The invention further includes an apparatus (500) for performing four-color laser printing, including dot-on-dot printing, using five developing stations (535, 532, 533, 534, 535) and only two photoconductors (512, 514). The apparatus (500) includes at least two photoconductors (512, 514), and at least three developing stations (531, 532, 533, 534, 535), such that at least one photoconductor has at least two developing stations associated therewith. The invention also includes an apparatus (400) which produces color images of increased quality by using six toners, including light and dark tints of two colors, and no more than three photoconductors (412, 414, 416).