Multicolor toner images are formed by first forming separate color images by four separate image-forming devices. Two of those images are transferred in registration to a first intermediate drum to form a two-color image which two-color image is then transferred to a second intermediate drum. The third and fourth color toner images are transferred in registration to the second intermediate drum to form a four-color toner image. The transfer of the two-color image to the second intermediate drum can be accomplished before or after transfer of the third and fourth images. The four-color toner image can be transferred to a receiving sheet in one step.