Method for increasing the diameter of an ink jet ink dot

A method for increasing the diameter of an ink jet ink dot resulting from the application of an ink jet ink drop applied to the surface of an ink jet recording medium comprising a support having thereon an image-receiving layer and an overcoat layer, the ink penetration rate of said overcoat layer being faster than the ink penetration rate of said image-receiving layer wherein the ratio of the ink penetration rate of said overcoat layer to the ink penetration rate of said image-receiving layer is from about 100:1 to about 10,000:1;

• comprising the steps of:
• a) applying said overcoat layer on top of said image-receiving layer at a thickness less than the maximum thickness, said maximum thickness being that thickness whereby an ink jet ink drop applied to the surface of said overcoat layer will not substantially penetrate the surface of said image-receiving layer;
• and
• b) applying said ink jet drop on said surface of said overcoat layer whereby the diameter of said ink jet ink dot is increased relative to that which would have been obtained if said overcoat layer had been coated at a thickness of at least said maximum thickness.