Print Durability
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Important
If you have problems getting your printer to operate or have print quality problems, read the Printer and Printing Troubleshooting Guide!
To get the best possible printing quality, you need to have a set-up that creates optimal results both in the short term as in the long term.
The ink quality in your ink cartridge is one of several factors, others are the choice of printer paper and printer model that in best case should be specifically developed to fit your ink. Finally, no printout will last for ever if you don’t store them in a correct way.
Printing Quality FAQ:
1. How to create quality printouts
2. How to get long lasting quality printouts
2. How to solve common Printer Problems
2. How to solve common Print Quality Problems
How to create quality printouts
To be updated soon…
How to get long lasting quality printouts
Printouts have the tendency to interact with the environment affecting the long term durability. The following factors will have a impact on the durability of your printouts:
Choice of Ink
Two types of ink are mainly used in inkjet printers – dye based and pigments based inks. Read about the characteristics of these ink types in our printer ink article.
Choice of Paper
Glossy papers and paper with optical brighteners can react badly to particles in the air and ultraviolet light. This will have a negative effect on the long term printout quality.
The solution is to use premium archival printer paper that has been developed to be more fade resistant than ordinary printer paper. A premium printer paper is built up by different layers that all have their own purpose such as controlling the ink absorption, keeping moisture out, wrinkling resistance and creating a paper surface with the right characteristics and looks. If you want to be certain of the produced results, go for a paper and ink type that the original printer manufacturer recommends. Tip: Read our article about inkjet photo paper.
Light exposure
If you store your printouts in direct light they will fade with time, the more intense the light is the faster the fading process will be. The solution is to store your printouts in a dark, dry and cool place. Modern inks such as HP Vivera Inks are made to resist the effects of direct sunlight, ultraviolet light and incandescent light.
Air exposure
Dye based printouts with higher concentration of cyan color tones react badly to airborne chemicals and especially to ozone. The solution is to store them in a protected atmosphere which could mean storing them under plastic or glass. The plastic should be acid and lignin free in order to not react with the printout.
Heat and Humidity exposure
Extensive heat will have an effect on both the paper and the ink dissolving the printout in the worst case. To high humidity may cause dye based inks to “move”. What happens is that individual colors (i.e. dyes) may move at a different speed making the color balance and sharpness of the printout to deteriorate. It’s recommended that you store your printouts in a dry and cool temperature that doesn’t fluctuate too much.