Explore Wisconsin


How Long Will My Digital Prints Last?

The question in the title of this articledye diffusion thermal transfer prints have
would  be  much easier to answer if you tookstability  comparable to that of traditional
the word "digital" out of it. Colorphotographic prints." But ink jet prints are
photographic  printing  has  been relativelymore  vulnerable  to  certain  kinds  of
unchanged since its debut, and you candamage:Water damage. According to tests,
expect  those prints to last up to 100 yearstraditional  photographic  prints  are
if stored properly. [And by properly, I meanfairly stable in water. Some types of
away  from  light  in  a  consistently  cooldigital prints are completely destroyed when
environment without extreme highs or lows inthey become wet, while some are more
humidity levels.]But anyone who hasn't beenwater-resistant.  Dye-based  ink jet images,
living in a cave the last five years knows
that  digitalfor example, showed serious damage after
even a brief immersion in water.Pollution.
photography is rapidly taking overAirborne elements such as ozone can cause
traditional film processes. It's time to asksome  colors  to
some
fade very rapidly. Some ink jet prints had
tough questions about what that means forthis  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'reless  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 paperthat  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 isskip 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, conductscutting  them  out  -  ick)  before  I
research  on  the  stability  and
started researching ink jet longevity. Now,
preservation of traditional and digitalI  upload  digital  photos  to  my  trusted
color photographs and motion pictures.Brand
matters. I'm not a "brand loyalty at anylocal photo processor. The web interface is
cost"  kinda  gal,  but  in  thisquick  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 inksway home from work.One final word of advice:
toStay away from quickie one hour shops because
work together, and it's in your best
interest  to  use  them  the  way  they werethat 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 inkschemicals (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'snoticed 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?



1 A B C D 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97