an ink - jet printer having improved print quality and full color printing capability on plain paper media . a radiant print heater heats the medium at the print area to increase the ink carrier evaporation rate . the heater includes a wire heating element placed in a reflectorized cavity beneath the printing area , and radiant heat energy is directed onto the lower surface of the print medium through a grill . the heating element is energized by a low voltage signal . the print heater heats the portion of the medium disposed at the print area during print operations to cause accelerated drying of ink deposited on the medium .