Methods for operating a printing system are provided. In one aspect, the methods can include causing an inkjet printhead that is positioned by a support structure to emit droplets of an ink including vaporizable carrier fluid toward a target area to emit droplets according to image data, using one of a plurality of shields to individually separate each one the plurality of printheads from the target area to form a shielded region between printhead and the shield and a printing region between the shield and the target area with the shield providing an opening between the shielded region and the printing region to allow the inkjet printhead to jet droplets to the target area, and supplying an energy to heat the shields to a temperature that is above a condensation temperature of the vaporized carrier fluid.