Effects of drying condition (IR radiation) on the optical properties and the printability of coated paper were elucidated at various latex sizes and low and high coating color concentrations. It was found that the smaller latex provided better rheology and higher dry and wet pick strength than the larger one. The high solids coating resulted in higher paper gloss and smaller roughness than the low solids coating, even though the clay addition was reduced by 20 parts in the high solids coating. Increasing IR radiation prohibited binder migration into the base paper. Thus it improved binder distribution and decreased pores in the coated layer, resulting in the increased dry and wet pick strength and the improved printing gloss. On the other hand, the color trapping and ink set-off was impaired with increasing IR radiation. Print mottle index passed through a maximum with increasing IR radiation.