Very little attention has been paid in the literature to the impact of the drop size on the dynamics of spreading and on the final dot quality with different paper grades. In this study, the development of the image properties was observed on a time scale of a few milliseconds and upwards, by using a special high speed imaging environment and continuous ink jet (CIJ) printers, with different nozzle sizes but similar water based ink compositions. The results clearly show that there is a strong paper dependent affiliation between the size of the ink jet drop and the high-speed dynamic phenomenon of dot spreading and drying. With coated paper grades, the interrelation between the drop size and the magnitude of the surface structure was found important, compared with the final shape of the dot. With uncoated papers, the growth of the dot is dependent on the size of the drop. The final intensity of the print was found to be the outcome of the characteristics of the ink and the absorption properties of the paper.