a user or operator of the device controller 70 is also operatively connected to the user interface 78 to display information to a user or operator including selectable options machine status consumable status and the like the controller 70 is operatively connected to a communication link 84 such as a computer communication network for receiving image data files and user interaction data from remote locations the ink loader 12 of the printer 10 is configured to receive phase change ink in solid form such as blocks of ink 14 which are commonly called ink sticks the ink loader 12 includes feed channels 18 into which ink sticks 14 are inserted although a single feed channel 18 is visible in fig1 the ink loader 12 includes a separate feed channel for each color or shade of color of ink stick 14 used in the printer 10 the feed channel 18 guides ink sticks 14 toward the melting device 20 at one end of the channel 18 where the sticks are heated to a phase change ink melting temperature to melt the solid ink and form liquid ink any suitable melting temperature may be used depending on the phase change ink formulation in one embodiment the phase change ink melting temperature is in a range of approximately 80 u00b0 c to approximately 130 u00b0 c in some embodiments alternative ink.