An apparatus and method for drying a receiver media (30) in an ink jet printer. The apparatus generally comprises a means for creating a pressure differential between the upper surface (20) and the lower surface (50) of the receiver media (30), wherein the pressure at the lower surface (50) of the receiver media (30) is lower than the pressure at the upper surface (20) of the receiver media (30). The pressure differential-creating means may include a vacuum pump (70) adapted to generate a vacuum at the lower surface (50) of the receiver media (30) or an air pump (130) adapted to pass air currents (140) across the lower surface (50) of the receiver media (30) to cause a “Bernoulli effect”. The method generally comprises the steps of depositing ink droplets (10) onto the upper surface (20) of the receiver media (30); and creating a pressure differential between the upper surface (20) and the lower surface (50) of the receiver media (30), whereby carrier fluid contained in ink droplets (10) is drawn through the receiver media (30) from the upper surface (20) to the lower surface (50).