A method for printing, the method comprising the steps of: providing a heat sensitive substrate extending in a machine direction, the substrate comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface and defining a width in a cross direction; directing infrared light from a light source onto the first surface of the substrate to define an illumination zone on the first surface of the substrate ; advancing the substrate under a printing station ; ejecting ink from the printing station onto the first surface of the substrate to define a printed region ; advancing the substrate and the printed region from the printing station to a metering device ; advancing the printed region from the metering device through the illumination zone ; drying the ink advancing through the illumination zone with infrared light traveling from the light source ; wherein the ink comprises water, and wherein the step of drying the ink further comprises evaporating the water; wherein the metering device comprises a conveyor comprising a belt and rollers ; wherein the metering device isolates the printing station from changes in the modulus of elasticity of the substrate caused by heat in the substrate from the infrared light, thereby maintaining a relatively constant substrate unit length at the printing station while under tension; and wherein while the printed region advances through the illumination zone at a speed, the infrared light heats the substrate from an initial temperature T in entering the illumination zone to a maximum temperature T max , wherein T max < T onSet with T onSet being the onset temperature of the substrate. providing a heat sensitive substrate extending in a machine direction, the substrate comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface and defining a width in a cross direction; directing infrared light from a light source onto the first surface of the substrate to define an illumination zone on the first surface of the substrate ; advancing the substrate under a printing station ; ejecting ink from the printing station onto the first surface of the substrate to define a printed region ; advancing the substrate and the printed region from the printing station to a metering device ; advancing the printed region from the metering device through the illumination zone ; drying the ink advancing through the illumination zone with infrared light traveling from the light source ; wherein the ink comprises water, and wherein the step of drying the ink further comprises evaporating the water; wherein the metering device comprises a conveyor comprising a belt and rollers ; wherein the metering device isolates the printing station from changes in the modulus of elasticity of the substrate caused by heat in the substrate from the infrared light, thereby maintaining a relatively constant substrate unit length at the printing station while under tension; and wherein while the printed region advances through the illumination zone at a speed, the infrared light heats the substrate from an initial temperature T in entering the illumination zone to a maximum temperature T max , wherein T max < T onSet with T onSet being the onset temperature of the substrate. <EOS>