A process controls application of a release agent to an intermediate imaging member in a printer rotating the intermediate imaging member in a single direction to generate and transfer an image. The process includes moving a release agent applicator into engagement with a rotating imaging member to apply release agent to the rotating imaging member, and subsequently engaging the rotating imaging member with a wiper blade so the wiper blade encounters a the applied release agent bar before the applied release agent reaches a transferring roller. The process further involves the disengagement of release agent applicator with variable time dwell and delayed disengagement of release agent wiper blade to reduce release agent bar. The engagement and disengagement of the release agent applicator and the release agent wiper blade are coordinated by two cams to reduce the likelihood that release agent is transferred to a transferring roller in a quantity sufficient to degrade image quality during duplex printing.