Re: [Leica] archival epson 1200 prints

[Henry Ambrose <digphoto@nashville.net>]

>KPETERS wrote:
>why can't a person just spray some uv protectorant/aerosol spray over the 
>top of
>your prints to lengthen life?  is it the uv light that degrades the inks,
>humidity, cosmic rays, radon gas???  I'm looking at some colour prints I just
>printed off my 1200 and wondering what kind of 'coating' I can put over 
>them to
>preserve them???  
>><Snip> 

>I thought there were special inks and papers now for Epson so that these 
>prints
>would have serious value.
>Mark Rabiner
>
The UV sprays will help but are not a complete answer if you want the 
picture to last like a real photographic print.

Part of what happens with the Epson paper (and some others) is that the 
paper itself discolors. So after some time (depends on display 
conditions) the paper goes from bright white to some shade of brownish 
yellow. 

Another thing that causes trouble with Epson prints is that the standard 
inks are dyes. These dyes fade for a number of reasons, one being that 
the dyes used are VERY sensitive to light and the different colors are 
sensitive in different ways and speeds. Also there is a chemical 
interaction with the coating of some papers that causes further 
degradation.

There are archival inks available for inkjet printers in both color and 
quadtone black and white. Some of these color inks are estimated to have 
display lives equal to or better than conventional color prints. Some of 
the quadtone black inks on the right papers are believed to have a life 
greater than 150 years. (150 years actually on display, not stored in the 
dark)

In color printing the archival inks have a very different gamut than 
Epson inks. Generally this can be accomodated in adjustments to the color 
profile used for the printer. Still these inks will look different from 
the Epson inks. 

The materials and characteristics mentioned above are just now being 
sorted out. More inks and papers are coming and the printers seem to keep 
getting better all the time.

Here are some links for further reading/research:

http://www.IAFADP.org/

http://www.magix.com.sg/users/kltham/

http://www.missupply.com/

http://www.lyson.com/

http://www.wilhelm-research.com/index.htm

http://www.digitaldog.net

Henry Ambrose