Method and system for cooling and pressurizing an imaging head

A method for cooling and pressurizing a laser imaging head (8) including a laser source (12), a light valve (10) for modulating the light (24) from the laser source (12), and optics for transferring the modulated light (26) to a medium (6). The method including enclosing the imaging head (8) within a non-hermetically sealed enclosure and providing a flow of cooled air at a predetermined cool air temperature and at a controlled positive air pressure into the sealed enclosure through an inlet (22) from a vortex tube (14) operating from compressed air. The cooled air flow and the predetermined cooled air temperature are controlled by the vortex tube (14) in order to maintain an operating temperature of the components within the imaging head (8) within a predetermined operating range and to maintain the positive air pressure within the sealed enclosure with respect to ambient air pressure outside of the sealed enclosure due to the controlled flow of cooled air entering the sealed enclosure.