Fading photos - Why?

  • Thread starter Thread starter John Jones
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J

John Jones

Various A4 colour photos we have stuck onto the bedroom walls for 1 or two
years have noticeably faded.

Is this expected?

They were printed using Hewlett Packard printer, HP ink and photo quality
paper.

Any thoughts on why and how to prevent?

Thanks, J.
 
John Jones said:
Various A4 colour photos we have stuck onto the bedroom walls for 1 or
two
years have noticeably faded. Is this expected? They were printed using
Hewlett Packard printer, HP ink and photo quality paper.
Click to expand...

Fade can be "normal", but it depends on a number of factors, including
ink and paper and exposure. HP's recent models with Vivera ink have
much better fade resistance than previous models. The inks used in the
#97/99 cartridges have 2-5x better fade resistance than those used in
the 57/58 or 78 cartridges, which have 2x or so better fade resistance
than the 41 or 23 cartridges. Paper can make a very large difference;
inks rated for over 100 years fade resistance on some papers may have 1
year on different papers. For comprehensive data take a look at Henry
Wilhelm's web site. He has a few hundred articles on fade resistance
based on decades of research. See http://www.wilhelm-research.com/.
Some specific articles that you may find useful are:
http://www.wilhelm-research.com/4x6/WIR_4x6_Prints_2006_03_02.pdf
compares various 4x6 photo printers
http://www.wilhelm-research.com/pdf/PCWorld_FadeFactor_Nov_2002.pdf
discusses various fade factors including ink and paper
http://www.wilhelm-research.com/shutterbug/Shutterbug_HP_2005_03.pdf
article on various factors of fade including environmental conditions.
http://www.wilhelm-research.com/book_toc.html if you are really into the
subject you can download Henry's 758 page book on the subject of "The
Permanence and Care of Color Photographs: Traditional and Digital Color
Prints, Color Negatives, Slides, and Motion Pictures", a free download.

If you specify what ink and paper you are using and the display
conditions (covered, open to air, exposed to sunlight, etc) someone here
could probably give you more specific suggestions.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging
 
Was the paper HP or similiar. If so then it may be due to your
environment. The newer HP inks should last longer.
 
I must say I've been using some cheaper papers although they are shown for
use with Inkjet Printers...and Ink I've been sourcing it off eBay but
branded HP and within the date shown.
 
Jon said:
I wouldn't trust any of his older tests. He used to test under fluorescent lights, which bear very little relation to most real-world situations. Following a lot of criticism
Click to expand...

by the generic fundamentalists
 
You have come upon the bane of inkjet prints, that has been researched,
and improved upon considerably over the years, but still doesn't have a
perfect solution. SOme newer inks can provide up to 200 years with
acceptable levels of fading, but you have to use the correct inks and
papers to accomplish this.

These newer formulations use either dyes with special papers that hold
the inks into place, or pigment inks.

The main enemies of ink are: bright light (particularly sunlight,
halogen and fluorescent), ultraviolet light, ozone, and other
environmental pollutants.

In general, especially with dye inks, such as those used with the HP
printer you have, using a swellable polymer surfaced paper will help to
slow fading on new prints produced (HP, Kodak, Fuji and other companies
make these).

On prints already made, try to protect them from direct sunlight,
display them under glass, which filters UV light and protects from ozone
and other gases.

There is also UV protective glass, which imparts a light yellow color,
and is pretty costly, but it does help further filter UV.

Art
 
TVM. Someone mentioned thought that laminating would help..someone else
recommended top coat UVprotection aerosol spray....do you think either...or
both together would reduce fading for our next batch?
Cheers. J
-----------------------
 
John said:
TVM. Someone mentioned thought that laminating would help..someone else
recommended top coat UVprotection aerosol spray....do you think either...or
both together would reduce fading for our next batch?
Click to expand...

A good rule of thumb is not to take anyone's word for it, try it your
self. As of late i've been spraying my CDs with a clear acrylic,
specificly Krylon's clear, but i've also used a spar urathane which
tends to discolor, and minwax's polyurathane on HP paper. In my neck
of the woods, it costs like $5.00/can.

But a simple windowsill test should show you how much of an improvement
spray or laminating makes in your enviroment.
 
A good rule of thumb is not to take anyone's word for it, try it your
self. As of late i've been spraying my CDs with a clear acrylic,
specificly Krylon's clear, but i've also used a spar urathane which
tends to discolor, and minwax's polyurathane on HP paper. In my neck
of the woods, it costs like $5.00/can.

But a simple windowsill test should show you how much of an improvement
spray or laminating makes in your enviroment.
Click to expand...
When doing this test, don't just lay the print on the windowsill. Place
a coin or something similar flat onto it. It's then easy to see the
effect of light fading.
 
Good tips TVM
J.
----------------------
thoss said:
When doing this test, don't just lay the print on the windowsill. Place
a coin or something similar flat onto it. It's then easy to see the
effect of light fading.
Click to expand...
 
John said:
Phew, thanks for all that...I'll do some gentle reading. Thanks. J
Click to expand...

How 'bout doing some gentle trimming of your replies? <s>

And posting your answer at the end of what's left after you trim?
 
How about top posting your reply so one does not have to scroll down to
read a thread they have been following.
 
Or for a few pence a print let the professionals do it.

FujiFilm Frontier 370 and 390 printers. These work by
exposing red, green and blue laser light onto FujiFilm
Crystal Archive photographic paper at 300 DPI
(dots per inch). The fade resistance of the prints is
rated at 150 years.

I'm keeping my receipt in case I have to claim under
the Trades Descriptions Act. Might just make it to
age 220 years.
 
How about top posting your reply so one does not have to scroll down
to read a thread they have been following.
Click to expand...

Top-posting just shows you up as an inconsiderate arsehole that knows nothing about netiquette and cares less.

Oh, hang on! Everyone already knows that's true of you, don't they!

Jon.
 
John said:
Good tips TVM
J.
Click to expand...

There was a responce below from Measekite that said that spraying
prints ruins the natural look of a photo. While he's our neighborhood
troll... and the fact that he has claimed in the past to use Krylon's
UV fixative, the point is valid enough.

Again, don't take our word for it... but do try visiting your friendly
neighborhood art/craft store. Look in the fine art section for the
stuff. Krylon has two products, one UV clear fixative with brushes and
pencils on the front, and another denoted with a diffrent graphic.
Each of these spray differently. There are also matte sprays by Kryon
and others which I find to be ideal. Most ideal in terms of looks are
the Minwax products found in your friendly neighborhood home
improvement shop. I'm unsure whether they are good for prints, but
they employ a more elongated spray head and I find it easer using that
to make smooth strokes. Photo shops are also a good place to shop for
such things, as well as K-mart, Walmart, and Target... though I've not
had good luck with target.
 
I am glad you like top posting.
Top-posting just shows you up as an inconsiderate arsehole that knows nothing about netiquette and cares less.

Oh, hang on! Everyone already knows that's true of you, don't they!

Jon.
Click to expand...
 
Jon said:
Top-posting just shows you up as an inconsiderate arsehole that knows nothing about netiquette and cares less.

Oh, hang on! Everyone already knows that's true of you, don't they!
Click to expand...
Particularly amusing as my comment wasn't to what's'name, one of the few
I have kill filed.
 
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