An electrostatographic recording apparatus and method has a primary image forming member (PIFM) that is moving along a closed path. The PIFM is sufficiently large to form a series of images thereon in the direction of movement of the PIFM during a production run of image formation. Plural series of toner images are formed on the PIFM during production runs. A first location on the PIFM is normally used to form images forming a part of the production runs. The first location is adjacent to and downstream of, in the direction of movement of the PIFM, a second location, such as a seam area, that is not used for image recording of production images during the production runs. A transfer device that is in engagement with the PIFM has its electrical bias switched from a first polarity used when transferring toner images from the PIFM to a second polarity that is of opposite polarity when the transfer device is in engagement with the PIFM at the second location. After a new cycle-up of the apparatus, there is provided for no recording at the first location on the PIFM of a first image forming a part of a new production run of images. Instead, the first image is recorded at a next available location on the PIFM downstream of the first location in the direction of movement of the PIFM, so that the transfer device is provided more time to recover when switching from the second polarity to the first polarity.