Epson DuraBrite Ultra fade tests with Red River Paper
Read the Fade test results with Epson DuraBrite Ultra inks.
DuraBrite Ultra is used in the "C-series" Epson printers. It is a pigment ink.
Paper
Estimated
Print life
(no glass protection)
UltraPro Satin 2.0
51+ years *
UltraPro Gloss 2.0
51+ years *
Premium Matte Papers
51+ years *
*This round of tests simulated exposure for 51 years. A result of over 51 years means that at the time the test was terminated, no appreciable fade was recorded.
Summary
The point of this test was to confirm the durability of Epson DuraBrite Ultra inks. We are satisfied that they are indeed pigmented and will last many decades on basically any inkjet media you pick.
Red River Paper Is A Great Source For Quality & Value
I have ordered from Red River Paper several times now over the last few years, and I have never been disappointed with service or the papers. In fact, I have really come to love the Aurora Fine Art White in sheets and rolls. It is a great balance of high quality fine art paper with great pricing. I have been selling my fine art prints as a profession photographer for years, and the Red River Aurora has become one of my go to papers. Shipping has always been fairly priced and right on time. A great company selling great products and service is hard to find these days, but Red River Paper proves that it can still be done.
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).
