An apparatus which dries and fuses a liquid image of liquid carrier and toner particles to a sheet. The sheet passes through a nip defined by a support member cooperating with a roller. The roller contacts the liquid image on the sheet. Heat is applied to the liquid image to fuse the toner particles to the sheet and vaporize at least a portion of the liquid carrier therefrom. The side of the sheet opposed from the side having the liquid image thereon is maintained at a lower pressure than atmospheric pressure to reduce the amount of heat required to vaporize the liquid carrier and remove the vaporized liquid carrier therefrom.