An imaging device includes at least one printhead including an aperture plate defining a plurality of apertures, an ink plate and a controller. The at least one printhead is configured to eject liquid ink through the plurality of apertures of the aperture plate. The ink plate is positioned with reference to the aperture plate to enable an ink layer to form between the ink plate and the aperture plate by ink ejected by the printhead. The controller operatively connected to the printhead and configured to operate the printhead to eject the liquid ink to the ink plate to form the link layer.