An ink melt heater is disposed in a phasing printing system for heating a solid ink stick for melting the ink stick from a solid to a liquid phase. The heater includes a trace assembly having a plurality of power zones having different wattage densities respectively. The heat transfer plate is adhered to the trace assembly for mating engagement against the solid ink stick. The heater has a low thermal mass for enhanced and rapid heat transfer from the trace assembly through the transfer to the ink stick.