Digital BW, The Print

On 14 Sep 2004 at 14:05, Paul Roark wrote:

> The reason we use a disproportionate number of Epson printers is that their
> patented Piezo-electric head seems to be the only one that can pump the
> higher viscosities needed to hold pigment particles in suspension.  At this
> point in the technology, pigments -- especially the carbon that is the basic
> one used for B&W pigment inksets -- still have a major advantage over dyes
> in longevity.
> 
> For dyes, the route to longevity is the "swellable" papers.  The Ilford
> version of this appears to be about as good as the others, judging from my
> fade testing.
> 

Swellable papers?  How do you tell which ones are swellable papers? Based on 
your fade testing, a print that is NOT in direct sun but hanging for display, should 
last about how long, before fading has made it unacceptable.   5 Years is well 
withing the limits I would impose, by then the printer will probably have been 
replaced, and the technology will be better, and besides that, I will probably want a 
new print for that wall anyway.

W