1. A method of printing of a color image having a range of colors, comprising: providing a rewritable color surface, said surface including a global pattern of a local color dot pattern, said local color dot pattern comprising two or more different color dots in which at least a first said color dot includes a background colorant and a first colorant and a second said color dot includes the background colorant and a second colorant different from said first colorant, said surface responsive to the selective application of energy to change a persistent state of the amount of the corresponding color in individual color dots to provide a perceived color for each local color dot pattern; providing an applicator comprising a memory storing a color image including state values for the color dots, first and second print heads separated by a visible band sensor, each said print head including multiple heads that produce localized energy, and a navigation subsystem for positioning the applicator within the global pattern; and scanning the applicator over the rewritable color surface, said navigation subsystem positioning the applicator and determining the state values for a corresponding portion of the color image on said surface, said first print head first passes over and applies localized energy to at least some of the local dot patterns to change their persistent state to a nominal on state to provide alignment markers, said visible band sensor passes over and senses the alignment markers to determine an absolute position within the local color dot pattern on the rewritable color surface and to align the state values for the corresponding portion of the color image to the individual color dots in the local dot patterns on said surface, and said second print head then passes over and applies localized energy associated with the aligned state values to the individual dots to combine different amounts of the at least said background, first and second colorants to produce a range of colors to print the color image.