A viscosity control unit provides improved and efficient residual ink removal from an imaging member following the transfer of the majority of the ink from the imaging member to a substrate, and prior to the application of a subsequent ink application to the imaging member. The viscosity control unit hardens the residual ink on the imaging member to produce a hardened residual ink. By increasing the viscosity of the residual ink before it is removed by a cleaning station, the removal of the residual ink from the imaging member becomes easier and more efficient.