Through both physical experiments and detailed computer simulations, we examine some of the underlying causes of image noise in dry-powder xerography. Although examples are drawn from common electrographic technologies, such as powder-cloud jumping development, our goal is to identify and quantify the limits of toner-based printing systems without regard to any specific product-intent hardware. Understanding and modeling the principle forces between charged toner particles (and surfaces) allows us to simulate complex self-organizing structures that evolve during the development process. It is hoped that studying how these structures form, and how toner properties affect their formation, will lead to improved dry-powder printing technologies that rival lithography.