Print zone heater screen for thermal ink-jet printer

An ink-jet printer for printing onto a print medium in a heated printed environment, comprising:

• a printhead for printing on a print medium, said printhead comprising a plurality of ink-jet nozzles disposed above a print zone for ejecting droplets of ink onto a surface of the medium in a controlled fashion;
• means for advancing the print medium along a print advancement direction to said print zone beneath said printhead during print operations;
• print heater means for heating said medium to cause accelerated drying of ink deposited on said medium, said heater means comprising a heat source disposed beneath said medium at said print zone;
• heater screen member disposed at said print zone for supporting said print medium at said print zone and for permitting convective and radiant heat transfer from said heat source to said medium, said screen member comprising an opening pattern defined in a screen surface, said opening pattern partially defined by a series of webs arranged so as to contact and support said print medium and so as not to catch a leading edge of the print medium being advanced to and away from the print zone.