Systems and methods are described that facilitate using TFT control of electronic discharge for surface potential reduction and latent image formation on an imaging member. Corona charging is performed to first create a background surface potential, followed by selective discharge of individual pixels using an array of TFTs to supply free charge carriers to reduce the electrostatic surface potential to nearly zero. This is followed by discharged area development (DAD) to develop the latent image on a print medium (e.g., paper). The described systems and methods do not require a HVPS to drive the backplane; therefore, the TFT matrix is electrostatically decoupled from the developer and other system components in direct contact with the imaging member. Accordingly, known addressing systems may be used to address the TFT array.