IP4000--longevity of photos

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Let me add to this: I am printing on Kodak Premium Picture Paper (high
gloss) and I intend to keep the photos in an album.

Mel
"MB_" <mel@prodigy.invalid.net> wrote in message
news:AhDBd.47301$GC3.6493@fe06.lga...
> We got a new Canon IP4000 Pixma printer.
>
> We like it.
>
> I was just wondering: how long are the printed photos supposed to last?
>
> Mel
>

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"MB_" <mel@prodigy.invalid.net> wrote in message
news:rvDBd.47313$sM3.31385@fe06.lga...
> Let me add to this: I am printing on Kodak Premium Picture Paper (high
> gloss) and I intend to keep the photos in an album.
>
> Mel
> "MB_" <mel@prodigy.invalid.net> wrote in message
> news:AhDBd.47301$GC3.6493@fe06.lga...
> > We got a new Canon IP4000 Pixma printer.
> >
> > We like it.
> >
> > I was just wondering: how long are the printed photos supposed to last?
> >
> > Mel
> >
>

Many people don't like to hear the truth, particualrly after shelling out
bucks for a printer but you asked for it!
Prints from Canon bubblejet printers have an unusually short life under
some conditions. These are specific and the papers which are worst are
specific too.

If you use gloss paper with ceramic dust on the surface which are touted as
instant drying, you can expect life of the prints to be as little as a few
months in any area subject to ventilation and air-conditioning or food or
tobacco smells. The longest life will come from either plain old everyday
photocopy paper or rag based, uncoated 'archival' matt paper.

Papers which use a swellable coating and need several hours (even days) to
fully dry will provide long life of the image. The only consideration with
these prints is exposure to light fade and unfortunately they don't laminate
well. It is a cheap investment at Kmart or similar to buy a laminator and
laminate your photos. This will remove all variables except light fade from
the life of a bubblejet print. Unfortunately, many inkjet "photo" paper do
not laminate well.

One of the most successful processes (and relatively cheap) you can adopt is
to use Kodak MATT Picture Paper (Cat 858 5366) and laminate the finished
prints about 4 hours (or longer) after printing. You can expect very long
life from the prints under any conditions except exposure to strong light.
The cost is relatively cheap and the results will be as good as you'll get
from matt paper.

Doug