In an electrophotographic imaging device, in which an electrostatic image is formed and developed on a first support to form a toned image, and the toned image is transferred to a second support substrate and subsequently to a final support, and in which to form color images, a succession of toner images are superposed on each other by transfer from one or more first support to the second support, transfer efficiency is enhanced and color consistency is improved by providing an order of superposition which places the toner having the greatest residual mass/area dependent color instability in a position of being sandwiched between or protected by two or more other toner images whose color contribution to gray balance is not as greatly dependent on mass per unit area. Thus, during transfer, the sandwiched or middle layer(s) will retain integrity.