An imager (102; 210; 410) comprising: a support (310A, 310B) configured to releasably receive a passive e-paper display (101; 131); a first unit (106; 211, 212; 412) spaced apart from the support (310A, 310B) and operable to make a first contact-less emission of ions in a first polarity and a second contact-less emission of ions in an opposite second polarity onto the passive e-paper display when held by the support; a second unit (104; 214) located downstream along a travel path from the first unit and operable to make a third contact-less emission of first polarity ions in a selective pattern onto the passive e-paper display to form an image when the passive e-paper display is held by the support; and a control portion configured to control the first unit such that the second contact-less emission of second polarity ions is performed a selectable first time period after the first contact-less emission of first polarity ions, and to control the second unit such that the third contact-less emission of first polarity ions occurs a selectable second time period after the second contact-less emission; the control portion being further configured to bring about relative movement between the support and at least one of the respective first and second units at least some of the time during the respective first, second, and third contact-less emissions; and the control portion being further configured to control the amount of ions emitted by the first unit (106; 211, 212; 412) during the first contact-less emission in accordance with a desired threshold percentage of oppositely-charged microparticles of the passive e-paper display which are to be caused to migrate to the surface thereof, the desired threshold percentage being in the range from 50% to 99% of all oppositely-charged microparticles. a support (310A, 310B) configured to releasably receive a passive e-paper display (101; 131); a first unit (106; 211, 212; 412) spaced apart from the support (310A, 310B) and operable to make a first contact-less emission of ions in a first polarity and a second contact-less emission of ions in an opposite second polarity onto the passive e-paper display when held by the support; a second unit (104; 214) located downstream along a travel path from the first unit and operable to make a third contact-less emission of first polarity ions in a selective pattern onto the passive e-paper display to form an image when the passive e-paper display is held by the support; and a control portion configured to control the first unit such that the second contact-less emission of second polarity ions is performed a selectable first time period after the first contact-less emission of first polarity ions, and to control the second unit such that the third contact-less emission of first polarity ions occurs a selectable second time period after the second contact-less emission; the control portion being further configured to bring about relative movement between the support and at least one of the respective first and second units at least some of the time during the respective first, second, and third contact-less emissions; and the control portion being further configured to control the amount of ions emitted by the first unit (106; 211, 212; 412) during the first contact-less emission in accordance with a desired threshold percentage of oppositely-charged microparticles of the passive e-paper display which are to be caused to migrate to the surface thereof, the desired threshold percentage being in the range from 50% to 99% of all oppositely-charged microparticles.