Source: TW
[0:00] What makes a print archival and does that mean that the print will last forever? [0:04] check out today’s video and you’ll find out [0:13]
Archival Paper
Archival Paper [0:33] - they’re using archival paper and archival ink
Archival paper means that the paper will last for [0:41] many years think centuries
before it starts to break down and become brittle
think about [0:46] a very old book that might be 100 200 years
and if you try to bend the sheet it will just break off [0:53].
that’s why acid-free and lignin-free are what make paper considered archival
because it’s the [0:59] acidity that’s what’s breaking down the paper.
Lignin
now lignin is an organic substance found in wood pulp [1:05].
the lignin breaks down into acid which will yellow and discolor the paper over time.
now lignin’s only [1:12] still used in packaging supplies and newspaper.
that’s why newspaper yellows very quickly [1:19]
it’s not used in pretty much any offset paper inkjet paper
and so you don’t have to [1:24] worry about the lignins too much,
there are other environmental factors that can lead to yellowing [1:29] your paper
or damaging it over time
such as pollutants in the air
as well as uv rays
Acidity
now [1:35] when it comes to acidity,
all paper archival or not will become acidic over time and that is because [1:41] all paper begins with acidity when it’s first made
(it) comes from organic substances
and there is [1:47] a buffering agent that is used to ph balance out the paper
which decreases the acidity
but there’s [1:55] really truly no such thing as 0.00 acid-free paper
because there’s always just the slightest bit that [2:03] buffering agent gets as close to ph neutral as possible
but over the years that buffering agent [2:09] breaks down
and then thus the paper goes back to his more acidic state
and then that increases over [2:15] the years
thus leading to breakdown and allowing the paper to break down over hundreds of years.
Archival Ink
Archival Ink [2:22] what about the ink?
now pigment ink is considered archival ink and it’s the main determining factor [2:28] for how long your image will last.
many think it’s the paper it’s not it’s the ink
so if you have [2:34] pigment ink then you either have archival ink
and whether it’s on archival paper or not [2:39] your image will last longer
than with dye ink.
now dye ink - rule of thumb is usually about 20 plus [2:45] years before fade,
whereas pigment is about 50 plus years before fade.
printer manufacturers will say [2:50] 100 or 200 plus years for a pigment
and up to 100 for dye
but that’s with lab testing.
the technology [2:56] is not 100 years old
so that’s using lab testing
and also more ideal print storage conditions. [3:03]
Print storage
which brings me to my next point
that print storage is key
and also making your images [3:08] last longer.
whether you’re using archival paper and ink or not
if you have poor conditions where [3:14] it’s exposed to sunlight or air pollutants
such as kitchen smoke candles incense air fresheners etc [3:21]
those will all damage the print
and it will fade much more quickly or yellow much more quickly.
When to use archival?
[3:26]
should you only use archival paper and archival ink
and this really just depends on the final [3:32] purpose of your print uh
we have many people saying they just they have to have it
and because [3:37] they feel in the market they need to get it but really think about what the end consumer is going [3:42] to be using it
for for instance greeting cards
most likely people will not keep over 20 years [3:47]
so you dye ink on whether it’s archival paper or not
all of our greeting cards by the way [3:52] are archival paper grade
but you don’t have to be archival paper because most people usually don’t [3:59] keep it that long.
now if you’re doing a single one and painting in it
and making it really unique [4:04]
if you want to do archival you can
but like i said our paper is archival
it just i don’t know if you [4:09] need to go and buy the more expensive printer to have the pigment ink with it um
some other [4:15] things people i know
we have artists that like to sell prints for like rule of thumb is
if it’s less [4:20] than 40 dollars
i don’t believe people are usually planning on keeping that
and passing it down to [4:25] next generations
and so on so usually the consumer is not expecting a print to last [4:30] over 50 years or even over 20 years
if it’s just a fun print they bought now.
if you’re selling prints [4:36] really unique fine art limited run fine art prints and or if you’re doing portraits you know [4:42] portraits people might want to pass that one down
or at least keep a few prints and pass that down [4:47] in the family
those might be better to do at the very least archival ink
because even again if it’s [4:52] not on archival paper
the ink will make it last longer
and those are conditions you might want to [4:58] do that
but if you’re just a hobby photographer or maybe you do some nature photography and [5:03] you’ll have it for a few years
but you don’t see yourself having it again more than 20 years [5:07]
i don’t really know if it’s necessary to have either archival paper or archival ink
but it [5:12] comes down to you and what you want
just be prepared that if you’re wanting all archival [5:16]
it’s going to be more expensive
and certain papers are going to take a lot more of your time
Outro
[5:22] so that’s everything about archival paper
we will have more videos to come so again [5:27]
please be sure to click subscribe button below
and give this video a thumbs up if it’s helped [5:31]
you understand the archival print and paper definition and please be sure to check out some [5:37] of our other videos that we have posted some faqs and otherwise have a great day and happy printing