| The question in the title of this article would be much | | | | comparable to that of traditional |
| easier to answer if you took | | | | photographic prints." But ink jet prints are more |
| the word "digital" out of it. Color photographic printing | | | | vulnerable to certain kinds of |
| has been relatively | | | | damage:Water damage. According to tests, traditional |
| unchanged since its debut, and you can expect those | | | | photographic prints are |
| prints to last up to 100 years | | | | fairly stable in water. Some types of digital prints are |
| if stored properly. [And by properly, I mean away | | | | completely destroyed when |
| from light in a consistently cool | | | | they become wet, while some are more |
| environment without extreme highs or lows in humidity | | | | water-resistant. Dye-based ink jet images, |
| levels.]But anyone who hasn't been living in a cave the | | | | for example, showed serious damage after even a |
| last five years knows that digital | | | | brief immersion in water.Pollution. Airborne elements |
| photography is rapidly taking over traditional film | | | | such as ozone can cause some colors to |
| processes. It's time to ask some | | | | fade very rapidly. Some ink jet prints had this color |
| tough questions about what that means for the | | | | shift problem less than a month |
| lifespan of your treasured family | | | | after printing. Photos encased in frames are less |
| photographs.Manufacturer's claims. You're shopping in | | | | susceptible to damage from |
| your favorite office supply | | | | pollution. Use use glass or inert plastic that is specially |
| superstore and pick up a box of glossy paper for | | | | manufactured to block |
| your ink jet printer. The box says | | | | damaging UV rays.Personally, I've decided to skip the |
| it will last 104 years. But how accurate is that | | | | ink-jet altogether. I had some not-so-great |
| claim?Independent, third party testing. Thank goodness | | | | experiences with printing my own photos (and cutting |
| for Henry Wilhelm. His | | | | them out - ick) before I |
| company, Wilhelm Imaging Research, conducts | | | | started researching ink jet longevity. Now, I upload |
| research on the stability and | | | | digital photos to my trusted |
| preservation of traditional and digital color photographs | | | | local photo processor. The web interface is quick and |
| and motion pictures.Brand matters. I'm not a "brand | | | | painless, the prices are |
| loyalty at any cost" kinda gal, but in this | | | | reasonable, and I pick up my prints on my way home |
| situation brand really does matter. Manufacturer X | | | | from work.One final word of advice: Stay away from |
| designed their paper and inks to | | | | quickie one hour shops because |
| work together, and it's in your best interest to use | | | | that rapid turnaround time doesn't always allow for |
| them the way they were | | | | proper rinsing. Residual |
| designed. Wilhelm's testing has proved beyond a | | | | chemicals (no surprise) will cause prints and film to |
| shadow of a doubt that cheap inks | | | | degrade more quickly. I also |
| fade more rapidly. So while it's OK to use them for | | | | noticed once that a popular online printer (they like to |
| short-term documents, but it's | | | | flood my in box with free |
| the wrong choice for photographs you'd like future | | | | print offers) charged extra for trusted paper brands |
| generations to enjoy.Inkjet vs. traditional prints. "When | | | | like Kodak. Hmmm... Something |
| properly stored, dyebased inkjet and | | | | to think about.Still have questions? |
| dye diffusion thermal transfer prints have stability | | | | |