Hi, I'd like to spin this off from a couple of threads on printers and photo paper...

1) What is the projected longevity for prints from HP, Canon, and Epson printers using same-brand photo paper? How about prints from Kodak and/or Fuji and/or Noritsu machines - what is their life span?

2) Under what circumstances are these projections true? (Example "100 years" - under what circumstances will these prints last 100 years - sealed in an airtight box?)

3) If non-branded photo paper is used (example Elit, Veco) will the longevity shorten? I found cheap satin 4x6 photo paper in National Bookstore and have tried it. Results were not as close to using Canon photo paper, but better than my expecations for something not as expensive. Will these last long as well?

The reason I ask is that I have a Canon IP4000 at home and have grown comfortable printing photos myself using Canon Glossy Photo Paper Plus. I have calculated that the cost of printing is very close to Fuji or Kodak prices. Just want to know if they will last as long.

Thanks very much.

Okay Nono I'll take a crack at answering your questions. Maybe someone such as Heidi Co from Epson can chime in here. But here goes:

1) To maximize print life, its safest to stick with the same brand of paper as your printer manufacturer. If you print Canon use Canon paper. If HP use HP paper. Part of the answer here is that manufacturers optimize results for their ink and paper stock. Of the three brands you list here, Epson is the most flexible only if you decide to use their pigment printers. Canon and HP models are dye printers and you really need to use their papers to maximize longevity.

Fuji or Noritsu machines are usually around twenty to thirty years last I checked.

2) Each company has their own method of measuring longevity. HP and Epson use Wilhelm which has seem to become the industry standard. Canon does their own thing. Assuming dye printers again, HP can get close to 80 years only using their paper. Canon says they can get 100 years with theirs if stored in an album. Again their own testing.

3) For non-branded paper its a crap shoot since their are no real tests to this. Veco uses Konica Minolta paper, a respectable brand, rebranded into their own brand. Your Canon model is dye based and will probably print well with many even non-branded papers. Longevity is questionable. Why don't you try your own test. Print two images. Tape one image to a window that gets just mild sunlight exposure. Put the other in a drawer. Compare both after two weeks to see if you notice any difference.

Thanks for the insights Nick, very informative! Will do the test that you suggested.

I've been using a Canon iP3000 inkjet printer. I have various prints made with these printer scattered around my house. The prints are regularly exposed to sunlight since I have a big skylight in my house's ceiling which illuminates my gallery and loft area.

So far so good. None of the prints have faded. Except for three prints which I printed as wine labels on A4 book paper. But I will only know how long the prints I made with Canon original inks (at this point I would like to state that I've never used 3rd party inks) on Canon paper will last.

I am now testing the Canon Pro 9000 inkjet printer. Canon claims that this printer has a lightfastness of 30 years under glass if exposed regularly to sunlight, 100 years if stored in an album. But as Nick has noted, Canon does their own testing. It would be nice though if a Wilhelm got around to testing the Canon Pro 9000 with Canon Photo Rag paper :D

Jo, i'm curious - how do you profile your printers? Do you use the ones that come with the printer software or do you create your own printer profiles? I'm looking at spectro-photometers for printer profiling but they cost an arm and a leg.

I don't profile my printers because the spectro thingies cost an arm and a leg :D

I've been using the canned or generic profiles that are included in the software of my printer. So far, so good. No unpleasant surprises unless I use non-Canon paper (which is what happens each time I print on handmade or drawing paper which is a bit yellowish). But some people like the yellowish tinge in my digital illustrations so I look at it as a plus actually. Different strokes for different folks. :D

Thanks Jo. I use the canned profiles too. Those spectro photometers cost the same as a black Macbook. :)

Im use the Eye One Photo and yes it cost as much as a computer. Am I satisifed with it. Tremendously because I like to experiment with different paper. Are canned profiles good? Yes and no although they are getting better and better all the time.

Cheaper solution for a spectro would be the Print Fix Pro which you can get for around P30,000.

And Jo A, how did you get your hands on that 9000???? I thought I was going to be first on Canon's list ? :)

Nick, you were first on Canon's list. But I'm better looking :D

LOL!

Agreed Jo! :)

I can't wait though for the opportunity to test the Canon Pro 9500.

10 colors, pigment inks ... Yummy :D

Too bad the product release is still next year.

I just took a quick peek at Wilhelm-Research. They are currently testing the Canon Pro 9000 and Pro 9500. No final test results. But the initial test results of the Pro 9500 look very promising. :D