A radiant heating comprises a housing having an opening for positioning adjacent a media web in an imaging device. A pair of radiant heating panels is positionable in the housing to any one of a plurality of positions between and including a fully open position in which the pair of radiant heating panels are positioned side by side in the opening of the housing and facing the media web and a retracted position in which the pair of radiant heating panels are inside the housing and facing each other. The radiant panels are configured to emit thermal radiation in accordance with a variable thermal output signal. A panel driver is operably coupled to the pair of radiant heating panels for positioning the pair of radiant heating panels to at least one of the plurality of positions in response to a variable view factor signal.