Digital BW, The Print

Tom wrote, in part:

>> Note that Wilhelm appears to have changed his prediction for EEM.
>>He now gives the paper a 110 year dark storage estimated life.  See:
>>http://www.wilhelm-research.com/ep9600%20print%20permanence.html

>I noticed that too and was very surprised.    His notes indicate
>that he runs his dark storage test at a constant relative
>humidity of 50% and that higher temperatures
>and higher RH could cause accelerated yellowing.
>The big unknown here is how
>much does yellowing accelerate with higher RH.  ...

I agree.  In my earlier post on this I noted the cynic in me wondered
whether the paper had changed ... or something else.  The something else
could well be the testing standards.

I think the bottom line is that Epson Enhance (aka "Archival") Matte is not
archival.

>Also, his dark storage test applies to prints that are framed, boxed, or
>sleeved to protect them from the open atmosphere.  He does mention that
>low-level air pollutants may cause, "significant yellowing within a
>relatively short period of time."  Again, we don't know what level of
>pollutants or how much it accelerates yellowing.  ...

Yep, lots of unknowns in these tests and predictions.

Stick with buffered, un-brightened cotton for the maximum life.

Ron wrote, in part:

>I had noticed Wilhelm's update.....but, what does it mean....is he
>ignoring the acid in the paper and the burning out of the
>brighteners?

I assume he must have standards that allow the usual brightener yellowing,
because lots of even cotton papers have brighteners and, in my tests, yellow
the same as EEM/EAM.  Usually after this initial yellowing -- which really
just turns the paper a cream color similar to some un-brightened papers --
the paper becomes stable, at least in my fade tests.  As such, I've assumed,
and Epson representatives have said, that the yellowing Wilhelm noted in the
earlier 30-year prediction was due to acid attacking the paper.

>...

>In my own very harsh Louisiana sun tests of a couple of weeks
>duration with B&W prints using a 2200 with Ultrachrome inks and
>ImagePrint 5.5 on both Epson Enhanced Matte and Epson Velvet Fine
>Art, the image appears to be very stable.  After a few days the
>brighteners burn out of EEM and the paper takes on a faint yellowish
>color, which seems to become stable after a few days.  I see almost
>none of this with EVFA, which has the same coating as EEM and which
>is acid free.

That seems consistent with what I see.  I think the Epson "Fine Art"
papers do not have brighteners in them.

I like EEM for display and general printing.  However, I'd never sell a
display print on that paper or use the paper for re-producing old family
photos, given what we now know.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com