Abstract: A paper tinting and drying machine has a tinting module and a dryer module spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance so that aqueous liquid ink with less than five percent volatile organic compounds by volume applied to the underside of the paper can be visually inspected by the machine operator and so that ink application adjustments located on the paper output side of the tinter module can be accessed by the machine operator. Rollers in the tinting module constrain the paper to follow a path of travel through two sets of inking rollers so that both sides of the paper are evenly coated. After entering the dryer module without smearing or transferring wet ink to the dryer module input guide roller, the ink on the paper is dried by air knives and infrared heaters within the dryer module. In a first embodiment, the rollers in the tinting module drive the paper through the machine.