| The question in the title of this article | | | | dye diffusion thermal transfer prints have |
| would be much easier to answer if you took | | | | stability comparable to that of traditional |
| | | | |
| the word "digital" out of it. Color | | | | photographic prints." But ink jet prints are |
| photographic printing has been relatively | | | | more vulnerable to certain kinds of |
| | | | |
| unchanged since its debut, and you can | | | | damage:Water damage. According to tests, |
| expect those prints to last up to 100 years | | | | traditional photographic prints are |
| | | | |
| if stored properly. [And by properly, I mean | | | | fairly stable in water. Some types of |
| away from light in a consistently cool | | | | digital prints are completely destroyed when |
| | | | |
| environment without extreme highs or lows in | | | | they become wet, while some are more |
| humidity levels.]But anyone who hasn't been | | | | water-resistant. Dye-based ink jet images, |
| living in a cave the last five years knows | | | | |
| that digital | | | | for example, showed serious damage after |
| | | | even a brief immersion in water.Pollution. |
| photography is rapidly taking over | | | | Airborne elements such as ozone can cause |
| traditional film processes. It's time to ask | | | | some colors to |
| some | | | | |
| | | | fade very rapidly. Some ink jet prints had |
| tough questions about what that means for | | | | this color shift problem less than a month |
| the lifespan of your treasured family | | | | |
| | | | after printing. Photos encased in frames are |
| photographs.Manufacturer's claims. You're | | | | less susceptible to damage from |
| shopping in your favorite office supply | | | | |
| | | | pollution. Use use glass or inert plastic |
| superstore and pick up a box of glossy paper | | | | that is specially manufactured to block |
| for your ink jet printer. The box says | | | | |
| | | | damaging UV rays.Personally, I've decided to |
| it will last 104 years. But how accurate is | | | | skip the ink-jet altogether. I had some |
| that claim?Independent, third party testing. | | | | not-so-great |
| Thank goodness for Henry Wilhelm. His | | | | |
| | | | experiences with printing my own photos (and |
| company, Wilhelm Imaging Research, conducts | | | | cutting them out - ick) before I |
| research on the stability and | | | | |
| | | | started researching ink jet longevity. Now, |
| preservation of traditional and digital | | | | I upload digital photos to my trusted |
| color photographs and motion pictures.Brand | | | | |
| matters. I'm not a "brand loyalty at any | | | | local photo processor. The web interface is |
| cost" kinda gal, but in this | | | | quick and painless, the prices are |
| | | | |
| situation brand really does matter. | | | | reasonable, and I pick up my prints on my |
| Manufacturer X designed their paper and inks | | | | way home from work.One final word of advice: |
| to | | | | Stay away from quickie one hour shops because |
| | | | |
| work together, and it's in your best | | | | |
| interest to use them the way they were | | | | that rapid turnaround time doesn't always |
| | | | allow for proper rinsing. Residual |
| designed. Wilhelm's testing has proved | | | | |
| beyond a shadow of a doubt that cheap inks | | | | chemicals (no surprise) will cause prints |
| | | | and film to degrade more quickly. I also |
| fade more rapidly. So while it's OK to use | | | | |
| them for short-term documents, but it's | | | | noticed once that a popular online printer |
| | | | (they like to flood my in box with free |
| the wrong choice for photographs you'd like | | | | |
| future generations to enjoy.Inkjet vs. | | | | print offers) charged extra for trusted |
| traditional prints. "When properly stored, | | | | paper brands like Kodak. Hmmm... Something |
| dyebased inkjet and | | | | |
| | | | to think about.Still have questions? |