This application is directed to driving methods for electrophoretic displays. The driving methods and waveforms have the advantage that they provide a clean and smooth transition from one image to another image, without flashing or other undesired visual interruptions. The methods also provide faster image transitions. In an embodiment, a method drives a display device from a first image to a second image wherein images of a first color are displayed with a background of a second color, which method comprises driving pixels of the first color directly to the second color before driving pixels of the second color directly to the first color.