The present disclosure includes a method of fabricating a thermal ink jet printhead including depositing a first metal layer having a thickness to form a power bus, deposing a first dielectric layer, forming a via in the first dielectric layer to connect the first metal layer to a second metal layer, depositing the second metal layer, depositing a resistive layer, forming a thermal resistor in the resistive layer, depositing a second dielectric layer, and removing a portion of the second dielectric layer.