In a multi-color imaging apparatus utilizing a recharge step between two image creation steps for conditioning a charge retentive surface pursuant to forming the second of the two images, a corona generating device is used to both charge the toned and untoned areas of the charge retentive surface, and to keep wrong-charge toner developed in the background areas at a charge level distinct from the toner developed in the image areas, so that the wrong-charge background toner does not transfer to a support substrate with the image.