A tandem tri-level architecture. Three tri-level engines are arranged in a tandem configuration. Each engine uses one of the three primary colors plus one other color. Spot by spot, two color tri-level images can be created by each of the engines. The spot by spot images are transferred to an intermediate belt member, either in a spot on spot manner for forming full color images or in a spot next to spot manner to form highlight or logo color images. The images created by the tri-level engines can also be transferred to the intermediate in a manner such that both spot next to spot and spot on spot transfer is effected.