How fast do dye-based prints really degrade?

[Mike_d]

All I hear repeated everywhere is "Dyes fade. Pigments last much longer." Ok, but what time scale are we talking about? For example, something printed on an Epson ET-8500, using Epson ink and Epson photo paper. These would be prints for personal use, friends, and family. I don't want them looking like crap in a couple of years, but they don't need to outlast the recipient.

 

[CNP]

It's been several years. But I did do a test on Epson Inks on Canon photopaper. This was long before there were special high end inks. Identical prints, one kept in a dark drawer, the other set in a south window for about 6 weeks. After that time there was no visible degradation which supposedly equals archival permanence standards. Using a densitometer there was barely measurable fading of the magenta test patch and the tiniest hint of yellowing in the white area.

So to summarize. Don't display them under direct sunlight or fluorescent lighting, and don't expose them to strong chemical vapours and they should look good as new for many years to come.

FWIW London Drugs in western Canada does such a good job of photo printing that I have no desire to roll my own.

 

[Mike_d]

FWIW London Drugs in western Canada does such a good job of photo printing that I have no desire to roll my own.

Yeah I currently get prints done at Walgreens, Walmart, or a local camera store/photo lab, depending on the situation. The only inkjet I would ever consider is an ink tank style model where the cost per print is much more reasonable. You pay a lot up front for the machine though. I have three school-aged kids so I know it would come in handy for their projects, plus I know I'd print more photos if I had a printer vs. having to go somewhere. But I can buy A LOT of Walmart prints for the cost of a printer.

 

[Mike_d]

BTW, does anyone know what printing process/ink type commercial photo printers use?

 

[paddler4]

All I hear repeated everywhere is "Dyes fade. Pigments last much longer." Ok, but what time scale are we talking about? For example, something printed on an Epson ET-8500, using Epson ink and Epson photo paper. These would be prints for personal use, friends, and family. I don't want them looking like crap in a couple of years, but they don't need to outlast the recipient.

Yes, they do, but there is no one answer. I printed with dye-ink printers for years, and some of the prints faded quite visibly, but over a period of more than 10 years.

It depends on how they are stored and displayed. Assuming they are displayed, direct sunlight will cause them to fade much more quickly. You can slow this down by using UV-resistant glass in the frame. Some that were never exposed to direct sunlight still looked good after quite a number of years, but others that did get direct sunlight faded.

But beyond that, it also depends on the particular inks and the particular paper. One trusted source for reviews is Wilhelm Imaging Research, http://wilhelm-research.com, but they may not have the particular combination of ink and paper you use. Another source is Aardenburg Imaging, https://www.aardenburg-imaging.com/light-fade-test-results/.

Very few people make prints that have to last more than a few years. If several years will do and the print won't see direct sunlight, dye inks are probably fine.

 

[Kuma5]

As above. Much depends on the viewing environment/s for any type of print. I've long used Espon pigmented printers so the prints have done well except in harsher settings. UV exposure is a big factor in longevity.