Use of an endless web for facilitating transfer of a marking particle image from an intermediate image transfer member to a receiver member

A reproduction method and apparatus including a primary image forming member (12, 103, 503, 603), and a substantially cylindrical intermediate image transfer member (20, 108, 508, 608) operatively associated with the primary image forming member whereby a marking particle image formed on the primary image forming member can be electrostatically transferred from the primary image forming member to the intermediate image transfer member (ITM). An endless web arrangement (34, 116, 416, 516, 616) is provided in cooperative association with the ITM. The endless web arrangement includes an endless web and a plurality of support rollers about which the endless web is entrained. A transfer nip for transfer of an image to receiver member is defined between the ITM and the endless web. An electrical transfer field is provided for electrostatically transferring a marking particle image to a receiver member brought into intimate contact with the ITM in the nip. Wrap of the endless web about the ITM is preferably greater than the nip length or area to ensure intimate contact of the receiver member in the nip and reduce pre-nip transfer and pre-nip ionization.