Latent charge images are provided on a photoconductor element having a photoconductive layer with a conductive stripe. This process is performed by charging the photoconductive layer with a charge having a particular vector to form a uniform charge on the photoconductive layer; and subsequently charging the conductive stripe with a charge having a vector that is opposite the vector of the charge on the photoconductive layer to lower the charge content in the photoconductive layer. The first charge may be provided by a first corona charging device and the subsequent charge may be applied by a second corona discharge device focused on a conductive stripe.