A method and apparatus for an electrophotographic color printer. The method of developing a color image onto a photoconductor includes providing a single base charge to the photoconductor and then using a cascade of developer potentials for the toners in the process such that earlier applied toners are at higher electrical potentials than are later applied toners. Consequently, the latter applied toners will not tend to migrate to the previously developed sections. Additionally, the method includes applying color toners in the sequential order of black, cyan, magenta (or magenta, cyan), and yellow. In this manner, any contamination of previously applied toner by later applied toner will be less evident. An apparatus for performing this cascading color printing method is also disclosed. The invention further includes an apparatus for performing four-beam laser scanning of a photoconductor using a single rotatable, polygonal-sided mirror and as few as one laser. The rotatable mirror has a plurality of reflective facets corresponding to sides of the polygon. At least one of the reflective facets is oriented at a first angle with respect to a vertical axis of rotation of the rotatable mirror to cause a beam of laser energy from the laser to be reflected to a first position on the photoconductive material. At least a second of the reflective facets is oriented at a second angle with respect to the vertical axis of rotation of the rotatable mirror to cause a beam of laser energy from the laser to be reflected to a second position on the photoconductive material.