Three Reasons That Printer Ink Will Fade Over Time

2010-08-26

After taking the time to capture a photo image of a special moment and print it out to save or share with others, it is a disappointment to find that faded printer ink has virtually nullified your efforts a short time later. Using any type of printer ink cartridges, the ink will fade eventually. The question is: why does printer ink fade over time? Here are three of the most common reasons that printer ink will eventually fade.

The printing industry uses a term called "lightfastness" to describe approximately how long your prints will last without the color fading. Several factors contribute to the lightfastness of a print, including paper and ink choices as well as environmental factors. From the beginning of the printing process, it is important to choose the right paper and the right ink for the job. The inkjet printer industry is dominated by two types of ink: pigment-based ink and dye-based ink. Professional inkjet printers use pigment-based inks because of their superior ability to resist fading over time. Unfortunately, those same inks do not provide the best photo quality. This is why most non-commercial inkjet printers use dye-based printer ink cartridges, which yield more vibrant colors but fall short on lightfastness - which is why consumers have a difficult time avoiding the problem of faded printer ink. Similarly, some manufacturers optimize their inks and papers to work together the best, so it is not a bad idea to use inks and paper designed specifically for your printer. Also, "archive quality" paper is designed to be lightfast, and will serve well for long lasting photos.

Printer ink will also fade over time if exposed to the elements. Light, humidity, even air - all of these can fade prints. The ink in most printer ink cartridges can be broken down by ultraviolet rays, so prints should be kept out of direct sunlight. Likewise, high humidity can spawn the growth of microbes that will break down the colors in prints and contaminants in the air can do the same. Keeping photos protected in archival sleeves or behind glass can minimize your experience with faded printer ink. One of the simplest reasons that prints fade is that they are not allowed to dry completely; it can take up to 12 hours for inkjet prints to dry, so don't rush the process.

Photos and prints can provide lasting memories, but they are also susceptible to fading over time. Using incompatible paper and ink, exposing prints to the elements and not allowing prints to dry completely can burden you with faded prints in the future.