Archive quality photo prints

[Ed Jacobs]

Since film cameras are going by the wayside, I would like to start to print some of my keepers especially the family shots. I’m worried that over time they may start to fade or change color so I’m looking for a printer that uses inks that will hold up over time.
Ed

[MichalR]

Have a look at Epson Stylus Photo line of printers. Epson makes claims of print longevity of 98 years under glass and 200 hundred years in album storage.

These printers and their pigment based inks are expensive and the printing process can get complicated very quickly. Having said that, I use Photo Stylus R2400 (now discontinued) with good results.

If you have only a few photos to print out, it would probably be more cost effective to bring your files to a good printing shop and have them print them out for you.

Cheers,
Mike.

[Keyop]

Ed, et al...

The subject of ink is only half of the printing equation when the topic is photo print image longevity... In line with Michael's suggestions, when printing your images with long-life pigmented inks you should also make such prints using so-called archival paper, commonly referred to as acid-free rag paper...The paper choice is as important as the ink choice.

For a more comprehensive understanding of the archival printing situation, you may want to visit the site below...These folks are the recognized "go to" lab, performing empirical studies on inks and papers and have a multitude of documents indicating performance of photo printing products within nearly the whole industry spectrum.

http://www.wilhelm-research.com/

FWIW

Bruce
"Keyop"
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