Inkjet Print Display

[Custard]

Interesting article (from a well respected photographic commentator),

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.co ... rints.html

Anyone any comments?

[Roboframer]

Scroll down in that link and you'll see a reply from a well respected framing commentator - Jim Miller.

There's good and bad info there but at the end of the day, the guy's a photographer who knows a fair bit about framing, but not everything.

[JohnMcafee]

Interesting piece.

I find his common sense take on specialist glass refreshing.

[Roboframer]

Like "I would only recommend UV glazing in the most extreme circumstances, such as a known high-UV environment. It doesn't hurt, but it's awfully expensive."?

How many customers, or even framers know what represents a high UV environment? A room with a window facing any direction will do me! It's not awfully expensive either, especially in The States.

However, he's on about things that are supposed to be good for 35 years with no glazing at all and I put my own inkjet photos in my SW facing shop window with and without UV glass and they've always been fine. Won't stop me upgrading a sale though!

[JamesC]

Very good article and backs up much of what I alway thought myself from experience and reading. A lot of it is the americans being so good at marketing and frigthening people into buying overpriced or unnecessary materials. Very often the thing starts with a legitimate use e.g for museums and historic artefacts, but then the company exhausts the museum market, and needs to grow, so slowly tries to get regular framing jobs done with a certain material, that won't be outlasted by other components or the print so is fairly pointless.

That's not to say it is all pointless, there are sensible limits I feel, and things have other benefits e.g. a conservation mountboard stays white in the bevel and protects the image in most cases, special glasses are also extremely clear or with lesser relection and do give the best enjoyment of the art for someone with lots of cash and nothing better to spend it on. In many cases it is overkill.

With photo prints there should usually be an original e.g. PC file or film, so framed photos don't need to be over the top. As a canvas printer I do get a bit fed up with other companies churning out dead quick uncovered canvas prints then making the same bold claims of longevity as my site, where I've always used either a museum grade non-yellowing varnish, or now drytac heatseal which I think is even better. If not they get scratched, the dust ingrains, etc.

On a positive note the ASA will accept complaints against internet advertising from March apparently - I look forward to getting started on the companies that have a sale every day, say they are the cheapest or best when they are not or have no evidence, set up fake price comparison sites that in 99% of cases lead to their own site etc, etc. They spoil it for the people trying to do the right and honest thing.

I found the airtight frame points very interesting, especially in regard to such products that were announced on the forum a while ago. Having said this I will keep taping the frames because from experience bugs are one of the quickest things to spoil a mount or picture! Not going to rush to pump all the air out though or smoke test it for leaks.

[Roboframer]

With photo prints there should usually be an original e.g. PC file or film, so framed photos don't need to be over the top.

So, if it fades, just print another?

Well, yes, but the faded photo has to be swapped with the new one and if it's brought to me, my fitting charge will probably be more than the difference between regular glass and UV glass, and then I'll do my best to 'frighten' in to changing the glass to UV, to delay the customer's next visit for the same reason to twice as long! ..... and I'll probably have a very good reason for the mounts ..... even the frame, to be changed!

If you look at this link within the one in the OP http://www.wilhelm-research.com/ every type of photo paper/printer/ink under the sun has been tested. All the paper tests have the same notes, check out notes 3 & 4 - it's no more than any conservator/framing glass supplier/manufacturer/educator is saying - i.e. it will last longer with UV filtering glass, how long exactly depends on ..........

There's a PDF there that I can't find now, 'How long will it last' from the most expensive papers with the best printers and inks, down to what you can buy at Currys. The 'unprotected' column ranges from 5-120 years. But that's under certain conditions that your customer's work may be subjected to worse than.