Process and apparatus for drying a material web. The process includes guiding the material web to at least one heated area having a jacket surface of a cylinder having a diameter of between about 4-10 meters, setting the material web, having a dry content of between about 45-55%, onto the at least one heated area, maintaining the material web in uninterrupted contact with the at least one heated area at least until the material web achieves a firmness sufficient for detaching the material web from the heated area, and detaching the material web from the at least one heated area with a dry content of between about 55%-65%.