Methods and systems disclosed herein provide for drying of wet colorants applied to a print media utilizing a substantially optically transparent drum that includes a radiant energy source. In one embodiment, a printer includes a hollow drum and a radiating energy source inside of the hollow drum. The energy source radiates energy for drying a wet colorant applied to a print media. The hollow drum surrounds the energy source and is substantially transparent to the radiated energy of the energy source. The drum includes a peripheral surface that contacts the print media as the print media transits along a print path. The drum conductively heats the print media for drying the wet colorant, and permits the radiated energy of the energy source to dry the wet colorant.