Question:
Pictures that I printed over a year ago on my HP photo printer are all fading to yellow. What would cause this, the ink or the paper quality, or both? I did go with generic paper and ink cartridge refills to avoid high cost. I need some recommendations on something that will last for years to come without making me broke.
Answer:
First of all, BACK UP YOUR PICTURES!!!
Put them on a CD, a DVD, another hard drive, an Internet storage site--> some place safe.
You answered your own question.
BOTH the ink and the paper contribute to the loss of quality on any printed material over time. I will address ink later, as it is a little more in depth of an explanation. Your question was regarding cost, so we'll get right to that.
PAPER
The first thing you should be sure of is that you are using acid-free
paper.
Bad paper, light, and gases in the air are the top contributors to yellowing in printed material. For maximum print life, you should display all prints under glass or lamination and properly store them.
QUALITY vs. COST
If it's a quality issue, then you should stick with the recommended products from your manufacturer. That is the only guarantee the printer maker will offer you, and it's extremely limited, at that.
There are a few things you can do to reduce the costs of printing your own pictures.
Major manufactures do offer inkjet printers that are comparable in price to other manufacturers' and are available to home users with the benefits of the ink that is used by commercial companies.
NOTE: Most inkjet printers are dye-based and/or offer only two ink tanks (black and color). Sometimes, the upfront cost is more, but the ink is less in the long run. You should look for printers that offer individual tanks for ALL the colors and black. That way, you are replacing only one tank at a time, as opposed to a tank full of all the colors, thus reducing your costs.
INK
Understanding ink and print is something that usually only commercial users concern themselves with. But here's the skinny: There are two basic options available to the home user.
***REMOVED***
Pictures that I printed over a year ago on my HP photo printer are all fading to yellow. What would cause this, the ink or the paper quality, or both? I did go with generic paper and ink cartridge refills to avoid high cost. I need some recommendations on something that will last for years to come without making me broke.
Answer:
First of all, BACK UP YOUR PICTURES!!!
Put them on a CD, a DVD, another hard drive, an Internet storage site--> some place safe.
You answered your own question.
BOTH the ink and the paper contribute to the loss of quality on any printed material over time. I will address ink later, as it is a little more in depth of an explanation. Your question was regarding cost, so we'll get right to that.
PAPER
The first thing you should be sure of is that you are using acid-free
paper.
Bad paper, light, and gases in the air are the top contributors to yellowing in printed material. For maximum print life, you should display all prints under glass or lamination and properly store them.
QUALITY vs. COST
If it's a quality issue, then you should stick with the recommended products from your manufacturer. That is the only guarantee the printer maker will offer you, and it's extremely limited, at that.
There are a few things you can do to reduce the costs of printing your own pictures.
- Several online photo sites will print quality pictures for a reasonably low cost.
- Local stores are starting to offer both digital and traditional film-developing options. You will see kiosks popping up all over soon, with trained staff to assist you in printing your own digital images on their machines.
- Research, research, research--the professional home photographers who print their own work lean toward specialized printers that use a different type of ink (for the most part).
Major manufactures do offer inkjet printers that are comparable in price to other manufacturers' and are available to home users with the benefits of the ink that is used by commercial companies.
NOTE: Most inkjet printers are dye-based and/or offer only two ink tanks (black and color). Sometimes, the upfront cost is more, but the ink is less in the long run. You should look for printers that offer individual tanks for ALL the colors and black. That way, you are replacing only one tank at a time, as opposed to a tank full of all the colors, thus reducing your costs.
INK
Understanding ink and print is something that usually only commercial users concern themselves with. But here's the skinny: There are two basic options available to the home user.
- Dye-based inks (most common) dissolve in water like sugar. They spread out on paper and don't bond tightly. This makes them more vulnerable to light and air. That's why your pictures faded quicker. A dye-based ink will typically last only about 6 to 12 months before noticeable change takes place.
- Pigment-based ink is the type that most commercial printers use. Basically, they form a bond, settling with the actual fibers that make up the paper so that they don't reflow (like sugar water). They are more resistant to water and light. Once the bond is formed, they tend not to smudge, and if they get hit by water or humidity, they don't dissolve the colors. You should know that commercial printers use an archival-quality ink on acid-free paper. That's why they cost more.
***REMOVED***
I typically don't like to overpromote any one manufacturer, but Epson does offer what it calls DuraBrite ink. If you do a cost analysis, you'll see that these inks stay steadier in price. They're not the cheapest but not the most expensive and have remained that way over the years. DuraBrite ink is pigment-based and comes with individual refills.
For my everyday use, I chose the CX 5400 all-in-one...doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but it has outlasted all my other printers, and I have spent a whole lot less money printing since I switched. And I do A LOT of printing for the home and office.
Read around and see what others think, but in the end, if you are determined to print your own pictures, check on the costs of the printer vs. the cost of the ink (and type of ink). Also note that some manufacturers make models for other companies.
Best of luck,
Tommy Logic
