A document processing system is provided that renders digital image data in individual pages, where each individual page is rendered to a bitmap page and a corresponding control string. The system includes a system architecture with a control channel for communicating and synchronizing the control strings at one or more process stations in an image output terminal (IOT). Further, the system architecture includes a cross channel rendering technique ("dual rendering") for constructing the control string in such a manner as to verify process correctness at one or more process station. In addition, a method is provided for setting up and controlling one or more process stations prior to normal operations. Still another method is provided for controlling one or more process stations during normal operations. Finally, a method is provided for archiving documents in an archive station during normal operations for potential retrieval and reference at a later date.