Print area radiant heater for ink-jet printer

An ink-jet printer for providing a heated print area to facilitate drying of ink deposited on a print medium during print operations, said print medium comprising a thin layer with first and second opposed surfaces, said printer comprising:

• an inkjet cartridge for ejecting ink droplets onto said print medium in a controlled fashion, said cartridge disposed above said first surface of said print medium at a print area and arranged for lateral movement across a lateral extent of said print medium during said printing operations;
• means for advancing said print medium to said print area in a direction transverse to a direction of said lateral movement of said cartridge to position said print medium in relation to said cartridge for said print operation;
• radiant print heater means for directing radiant heat at a portion of said second surface of said print medium at said print area and along said lateral extent of said medium to heat a portion of said print medium disposed at said print area and thereby causes accelerated drying of said ink ejected onto said first surface;
• and
• means positioned between said heater means and said second surface of said medium for supporting said print medium at said print area while permitting transfer of said radiant heat from said heater means to said second surface, said supporting means permitting little if any conductive heat transfer to said second surface.