A transfer belt apparatus, system and method are provided to prevent image blooming. For example, an ink jet printing apparatus may include a grounded print head, a counter-electrode opposite the ground print head, and a bi-layer transfer belt provided between a print head and a counter-electrode and at least partially supported by two or more transfer bias rollers. A method may include applying a voltage between a print head and a counter-electrode to accelerate ink drops coming out of the print head toward a transfer belt, and evacuating charge accumulated on the transfer belt with a time constant smaller than a drop ejection frequency of the print head.