Digital BW, The Print

Hello Frank,

>What does disturb me the most about the matte inkjet papers is the 
>yellowing that can  happen when the OBA's wear away , for lack of a 
>better term. I make neutral prints and enjoy making neutral prints
>and really  don't want them turning yellow, or cream or sepia. But
>from Clayton Jones' questioning of the paper manufacturers, it seems
>they are not too concerned about it. 

In addition to those quotes, it's a demonstrable fact that OBAs are
not the same in all papers.  EEM is probably the worst offender,
turning yellow in a matter of weeks.  Obviously whatever OBA it's
using is short lived.  At the other end are bright white OBA papers
such as Condor BW and Kayenta, plus bright off-white papers like VFA
and HPR that I've had laying around unprotected for several years,
some getting direct sunlight, that haven't yellowed.  Manufacturers
have stated that some papers have OBAs only in the coatings, some in
the paper as well, and in varying amounts and types.

The bottom line is we don't know exactly what OBAs any paper has or
how much or how it's used.  If that's too freaky to contemplate then
avoiding OBA papers is the obvious solution.  I usually lean more
toward the practical reality than the theoretical and I use the above
mentioned papers because they have proven not to yellow under tougher
than normal circumstances.  This point of view is influenced by the
many prints on bright white OBA-containing darkroom papers I have,
some over 20 years old, that haven't yellowed.

I agree with the others that the biggest danger is reacting to fumes
from paint, wallpaper, etc.  That makes the OBA issue seem
insignificant to me.

Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm