Inkjet Fade Testing with Canon Inks and Red River Paper
View the Inkjet Fade Testing with Canon Inks and Red River Paper
Paper
Notes
Estimated Print Life
Premium Polar Satin
Sprayed with Krylon Clear UV
24 years
Conclusions
UV spray coating adds significantly to the fade resistance of dye ink prints. Similar tests without spray coating predicted fade resistance of 5-7 years.
Our testing facility* added six new fade parameters to more accurately predict printlife.
Parameter
Patch that experienced failure
End-point where failure is noted
Magenta Fade
Red
30% loss
Yellow Fade
Red
30% loss
Cyan Fade
Green
30% loss
Yellow Fade
Green
30% loss
Cyan Fade
Blue
30% loss
Magenta Fade
Blue
30% loss
*All tests conducted at the Image Permanence Institute of the Rochester Institute of Technology
I have used Red River paper for about 10-12 years. I mostly order photo matte paper and print with carbon based inks and dye inks for my B&W prints. In my opinion their paper produces outstanding results - midtones, blacks and whites.
Papers with the Archival designtation can take many forms. They can be glossy, matte, canvas, or an artistic product. These papers are acid free, lignin free and can be made of virgin tree fiber (alpha cellulose) or 25-100% cotton rag. They are likely to have optical or fluorescent brightening agents (OBAs) - chemicals that make the paper appear brighter white. Presence of OBAs does not indicate your image will fade faster. It does predict a slow change in the white point of your paper, especially if it is displayed without UV filter glass or acrylic.
Archival Grade Summary
Numerous papers - made from tree or cotton content
Acid and lignin free base stock
Inkjet coating layer acid free
Can have OBAs in the base or the coating
Museum Grade Paper
Papers with the museum designation make curators happy. They are made from 100% cotton rag content and have no optical brightener content. (OBA) The base stock is acid and lignin free. The coating is acid free. This type of offers the most archival option in terms of media stability over time.
Museum Grade Summary
100% cotton rag content
Acid and lignin free base stock
Inkjet coating layer acid free
No OBA content
Photographic Grade Paper
Photo Grade products are designed to look and feel like modern photo lab paper. Most photo grade media are resin coated, which means they have a paper core covered by a thin layer of polyethelene (plastic) . Plastic gives the paper its photo feel, stability (flatness), water resistance, handling resistance, and excellent feed consistency.
Prints on photo grade media are stable over long periods. With pigment inks in a protected environment, you can see up to 80 years on-display life. All RC papers are Photo Grade for two reasons. Plastic content is not technically archival by museum standards. Also, the inkjet coating of all RC papers is slightly acidic. It facilitates instant drying and does not actually change the stability of your inks over time. Virtually all RC papers have optical brightening agents (OBAs).
