Longevity of inkjet prints.

John Bragg · Sep 18, 2020

So, given good paper and ink, is there any reason that a good well made inkjet shouldn't last as long and possibly longer than a decent well processed and washed silver print ? I have been impressed by the fade resistance of Canon Pixma ink on Ilford Galerie Mono Gold Silk and Fotospeed Smooth Pearl 290 seems good too. Some generic ink is another story. It deteriorates fairly quickly in sunlight showing a colour shift in a matter of a couple of weeks ! Whilst I have a stash of Galerie Mono, it is no longer produced. I am thinking that Fotospeed Platinum Baryta 300 might make a suitable replacement. All my output is scanned HP5+ printed on a newly acquired Canon Pixma G 5050 Megatank printer. Finally good ink at a sensible price. Any other suggestions for a Mono friendly Baryta paper ?

eli griggs · Sep 18, 2020

I've no real knowledge of ink jet issues, I will offer that you should check out the chain "Tuesday Morning", as they often have good papers and discontinued items.

This is where I've bought a number of teams of Crain's 25% cotton printing paper, at very good prices.

Good Luck.

John Bragg · Sep 18, 2020

eli griggs said:
I've no real knowledge of ink jet issues, I will offer that you should check out the chain "Tuesday Morning", as they often have good papers and discontinued items.

This is where I've bought a number of teams of Crain's 25% cotton printing paper, at very good prices.

Good Luck.

Thanks Eli. Sadly no branches near me. I have a couple mail order firms in mind and managed to get some Permajet R/C paper at 20% off and free postage.

Dusty Negative · Sep 18, 2020

John Bragg said:
Any other suggestions for a Mono friendly Baryta paper ?

I cannot speak to the longevity issue, but I can to the baryta. I have settled on Canson Baryta Photographique II. It has softer specular reflections and less bronzing than Gold Mono Silk. On a more subjective level, I prefer the texture as well.

While some folks prefer Canson’s version 1 (just called Baryta Photographique) it had a slight stipple, which I don’t like.

foveon_m · Sep 18, 2020

the Pixma G 5050 uses pigment ink only for black, other colors are just dye.
Pigment inks are very durable, dye are not.

John Bragg · Sep 18, 2020

foveon_m said:
the Pixma G 5050 uses pigment ink only for black, other colors are just dye.
Pigment inks are very durable, dye are not.

Thanks for that. The prints (dye based) I have from my previous printer, (Canon Pixma 7250i) have held up very well. I have some that are 5 years old and show no ill effects from being on display. That is with Canon ink though. Generic ink not so good.

Alan9940 · Sep 18, 2020

IMO, if you use pigment ink on a fine quality cotton rag paper, without OBA's, the print will most likely out live you. If you print B&W and use Jon Cone's carbon inks, we're probably talking the actual deterioration lifespan of the substrate itself.

Ron789 · Sep 18, 2020

While some years back, dye inks would fade within months or years, much has improved over the past decade. E.g. Canon claims that their latest dye inks produce prints that will remain good for 300 years, see https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/...ng-innovations/chromalife/chromalife-100-plus

John Bragg · Sep 18, 2020

Ron789 said:
While some years back, dye inks would fade within months or years, much has improved over the past decade. E.g. Canon claims that their latest dye inks produce prints that will remain good for 300 years, see https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/...ng-innovations/chromalife/chromalife-100-plus

Thanks Ron. That is interesting information. My aim with buying the Megatank printer was to avoid the inflated cost of ink in cartridges, but still benefit from oem formulated chromalife ink. I now feel justified in my choice.

tnp651 · Sep 18, 2020

Here's a link to articles about inkjet permanence. Som have an estimated 400-year life span. http://www.wilhelm-research.com

Mr Bill · Sep 18, 2020

Ron789 said:
E.g. Canon claims that their latest dye inks produce prints that will remain good for 300 years, see https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/...ng-innovations/chromalife/chromalife-100-plus

Don't overlook that they are specific about that being in the dark. So nothing is being said about how those prints would hold up under constant display.

From the link:

* Based on accelerated testing by Canon in dark storage under controlled temperature, humidity and gas conditions, simulating storage in an album with plastic sleeves...

StepheKoontz · Sep 18, 2020

I have an inkjet print made with an i9990 when they first came out around 2004/2005, from an olympus E1, with those older dye canon inks, on ilford pearl finish paper, that has been on constant display and it still looks fantastic. I'm not sure what people are doing to have prints fade in a few months or even a few years.

I can also say canon printers are good about the heads not clogging when they sit for extended periods as well.

Alan9940 · Sep 18, 2020

I have several prints hanging on the walls that were made about 15 years ago with an Epson 2200; still look as good as the day they came out of the printer. The oldest inkjet print I own is by another photographer and was printed on some cheap glossy paper (I think it's Costco glossy) on an Epson 1270. It has been kept in the dark, but it looks as good today as the day I received it! I would never have believed it, given the dye inks and paper involved.

Adrian Bacon · Sep 19, 2020

John Bragg said:
So, given good paper and ink, is there any reason that a good well made inkjet shouldn't last as long and possibly longer than a decent well processed and washed silver print ? I have been impressed by the fade resistance of Canon Pixma ink on Ilford Galerie Mono Gold Silk and Fotospeed Smooth Pearl 290 seems good too. Some generic ink is another story. It deteriorates fairly quickly in sunlight showing a colour shift in a matter of a couple of weeks ! Whilst I have a stash of Galerie Mono, it is no longer produced. I am thinking that Fotospeed Platinum Baryta 300 might make a suitable replacement. All my output is scanned HP5+ printed on a newly acquired Canon Pixma G 5050 Megatank printer. Finally good ink at a sensible price. Any other suggestions for a Mono friendly Baryta paper ?

Canon's Lucia Pro inks in the Pro-1000/2000/4000/6000 series printers are supposed to be pretty long lasting. I've had my Pro-1000 for a couple years now and my first prints with it look just as good as if I just printed them. One of the prints gets a fair amount of daylight exposure.

RalphLambrecht · Sep 19, 2020

John Bragg said:
So, given good paper and ink, is there any reason that a good well made inkjet shouldn't last as long and possibly longer than a decent well processed and washed silver print ? I have been impressed by the fade resistance of Canon Pixma ink on Ilford Galerie Mono Gold Silk and Fotospeed Smooth Pearl 290 seems good too. Some generic ink is another story. It deteriorates fairly quickly in sunlight showing a colour shift in a matter of a couple of weeks ! Whilst I have a stash of Galerie Mono, it is no longer produced. I am thinking that Fotospeed Platinum Baryta 300 might make a suitable replacement. All my output is scanned HP5+ printed on a newly acquired Canon Pixma G 5050 Megatank printer. Finally good ink at a sensible price. Any other suggestions for a Mono friendly Baryta paper ?

I can highly recommend the line of Photolux papers from Germany. All their papers come on roll or cut-sheet sizes; are reasonably prized, delivered in a day or two directly from them and they have fine-tuned profiles for every printer I know of. I use their papers with an Epson 3880 and get beautiful, neutral-gray B&W images out of it with the standard Epson inks.

John Bragg · Sep 20, 2020

RalphLambrecht said:
I can highly recommend the line of Photolux papers from Germany. All their papers come on roll or cut-sheet sizes; are reasonably prized, delivered in a day or two directly from them and they have fine-tuned profiles for every printer I know of. I use their papers with an Epson 3880 and get beautiful, neutral-gray B&W images out of it with the standard Epson inks.

Thanks Ralph. May well be worth a look. I print nearly all Black and white with a liking for slightly warm/neutral paper.

RalphLambrecht · Sep 20, 2020

John Bragg said:
Thanks Ralph. May well be worth a look. I print nearly all Black and white with a liking for slightly warm/neutral paper.

RalphLambrecht · Sep 20, 2020

it's not too hard to simulate any toning or warm-paper characteristics in digital printing.

Longevity of inkjet prints.

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