Inkjet printers and fading ink

By Elsa Wenzel on 03 June 2005

Only time will tell how long any print will truly last. Inkjet printers have started to produce photo-quality results only within the last few years, so we don't have any antiques to examine.

That said, you can check out the rankings from Wilhelm Imaging Research, which attempts to simulate how prints made by popular inkjet printers might withstand the ravages of time.

If print longevity preoccupies you, you should probably buy the name-brand inks and papers recommended by your printer maker, despite the sticker shock. Each printer is designed with specific inks and papers to chemically interact.

Learn from the past to preserve the future: collectors of vintage photography come across an abundance of materials scarred by rusty paper clips, tape and glue. The only thing that should touch your photos is acid-free paper or a UV-protected frame. Safeguard your pictures in an environment free of light, humidity and extreme temperatures; those kitchen fridge photos are already goners, thanks to so much sunshine and smoke.

Topics: printer, inkjet, ink, durable, fading, inkjet printers, papers, print, fade, photo

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Comments (1)

  • Pathfinder commented on 09/09/2007 17:27 Report abuse

    Kodak have introduced "ColorLast Technology" Photo Paper that is claimed to last over 100 years. It is also claimed to work on all inket printers.
    The name of the paper is Ultima Photo Paper and I picked up a pack at my local Safeway Supermarket. The results I have achieved have been excellent, but of course they haven't been around long enough to test the claim.

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