Digital BW, The Print

This group was discussing different types of ink.  I recently read 
on the Epson web site that their inks would last 92 years.  This 
seems optimistic.  Will third party inks last as long?  I am told 
that various types of photo rag paper is archival.  How many years 
is archival?  I realize that my questions are probably pretty 
elementary but I am just beginning to move from the darkroom to the 
ccomputer.  Thanks,

Perry

Hello Perry,

>I am just beginning to move from the darkroom to the computer

Welcome to the forum.  You'll find lots of good information here and
over time all aspects of BW digital printing are covered.


>This group was discussing different types of ink.  I recently read 
>on the Epson web site that their inks would last 92 years.  This 
>seems optimistic.  Will third party inks last as long?  

It depends on which specific inks you are talking about, generalities
just don't apply.  However, assuming the best carbon based pigment
inks, the straight answer is yes, and more.  If you go to the Wilhelm
Imaging Research web site at
 
       http://www.wilhelm-research.com/   

you can find reports on various ink and paper combinations.  The paper
is a large part of the equation.  The UT ink sets from MIS at 

      http://www.inksupply.com

are some of the most highly regarded 3rd party ink sets, in particular
the pure carbon black ink they use called "Eboni".  My understanding
is that the  top inks on the best papers are rated at over 100 years
when properly framed under glass, and more than that in dark storage
conditions.  Eboni has one of the very highest ratings.

I use Eboni and it is beautiful ink.  It prints cooler than other
carbon inks, and has excellent Dmax.  It looks great on a variety of
papers.


>I am told that various types of photo rag paper is archival.  

"Photo Rag" (PR) is actually the name of a specific paper made by the
Hahnemuhle company in Germany.  It isn't used as a general term.  PR
pretty well sets the standard in terms of Dmax and general beauty
(other papers are often described in terms of comparison to PR), and
also gets high marks in the archival tests.  Most 100% cotton
acid-free papers get high archival marks, however there are
differences.  It's probably the coating on the paper that makes the
difference.  There is also an issue about whether coatings and/or
papers have optical brightening agents (OBA) in them. Some people fear
the agents will deteriorate or "burn off" over time, leaving the
papers looking warmer.  


>How many years is archival?  

Good question.  I remember back in my darkroom days people used
to say that archivally processed prints would last "indefinitely". 
Now we're discovering that isn't so.  Here is a good web site for
information on the subject

  http://www.wilhelm-research.com/corbis_subzero.html

It has many links to articles about the Corbis Image Vault.  Very
interesting reading.


Regards,
Clayton


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