Vacuum collection system used for dye-ablation printing process is as follows. An ablated materials collection apparatus for a laser dye ablation printing process includes a set of walls to define a vacuum chamber open towards the platen surface, a vacuum source which communicates with the vacuum chamber through an opening in the walls on the crosstrack side of the vacuum chamber away from areas of the recording element already written and on the intrack side of the vacuum chamber downstream with respect to the direction of scan. A heat source for the vacuum chamber inhibits adherence of ablated material to surfaces of the vacuum chamber, and a solvent application prevents buildup of ablated material on surfaces of the vacuum chamber. An electrostatic air cleaner and a carbon filter clean the discharge air. The wall set defines a semicylindrical end surface which substantially conforms to the cylindrical shape of the platen surface to thereby form a close fit with the platen surface such that the platen surface forms a wall of the vacuum chamber. Vacuum collection system for dirt management is as follows. A copier/printer having a transfer station for transferring images from an imaging member to copy sheets includes the improvement of removing debris from within the copier/printer by locating baffles and vacuum ports within the copier/printer to cause deposition, collection and removal of debris and other contaminants in specified locations. An electrical bias is selectively applied to at least some of the baffles to electrostatically attract the contaminants thereon. The vacuum ports are connected to a vacuum source that could operate continuously or intermittently at start-up or shutdown.