Microwave dryers for printing systems that utilize electromagnetic and radiative heating

A method of fabricating a microwave dryer that is configured to dry a wet colorant applied to a continuous-form print medium by a printing system, the method comprising:

• activating a microwave source that generates electromagnetic energy to dry the wet colorant, wherein the microwave source is electromagnetically coupled to a microwave waveguide that includes a passageway that is sized to pass the continuous-form print medium through the microwave waveguide;
• measuring radio frequency levels of the electromagnetic energy within the microwave waveguide at a plurality of locations along a media path of the continuous-form print medium;
• and
• positioning a plurality of microwave absorbing elements within the microwave waveguide based on the radio frequency levels.

A printing system, comprising:

• a printer configured to apply a wet colorant to a continuous-form print medium;
• and
• a microwave dryer configured to receive the continuous-form print medium from the printer, the microwave dryer comprising:
• a microwave source configured to generate electromagnetic energy to dry the wet colorant;
• a microwave waveguide that is electromagnetically coupled to the microwave source and includes a passageway that is sized to pass the continuous-form print medium through the microwave waveguide;
• and
• a plurality of microwave absorbing elements disposed within the microwave waveguide proximate to the passage that are configured to absorb the electromagnetic energy, and to heat the wet colorant in conjunction with the electromagnetic energy.