Infrared-heated air knives for dryers

An apparatus comprising:

• multiple heating elements;
• and
• an air knife interposed between the heating elements, the air knife comprising:
• a shell comprising an exterior that directly absorbs infrared energy from the heating elements;
• a passage defined by the shell;
• and
• an inner surface of the shell heated by conductive heat transfer with the exterior the shell, wherein air exiting the air knife is heated by at least ten degrees Celsius via forced convective heat transfer with the shell.

A method comprising:

• operating heating elements within an interior of a dryer to radiate infrared energy onto a web of printed media as the web travels through the interior;
• directly receiving infrared energy from the heating elements at a shell of an air knife;
• and
• heating air exiting a passage of the air knife by at least ten degrees Celsius via forced convective heat transfer with the shell.