I have to remove my a/c dryer so I can put a coat of paint on it. Can the charge that is in the system be "saved" while I do this or will I just have to recharge the system after I put everything back together?

it'll have to be recharged. I don't think you really want to pay for an a/c recharge just to put 25 cents worth of paint on it. If you do decide that you just gotta have new paint on the drier toss that one and install a new one as that one will be contaminated.