Inkjet prints

Some fine art reproductions (and some original digital art) made on
inkjet equipment, sometimes called Giclee prints, were made using
dye based inks for the maximum color gamut that dyes provided.
Similar prints made with pigmented inks have limited color and
claims of "archival" stability are made for those, but the dyes are
less stable and are sensitive to environmental conditions which can
cause them to fade or change color prematurely. High humidity and
exposure to ozone are just two factors which can cause accelerated
changes in dye based prints.

Recent improvements in pigmented ink color gamuts appears to have
solved the problem for prints which are currently in production.
Manufacturers make no claims for any of these processes and there
are no warranties against fading that I know of, yet there seems to
be an assumption in the marketplace that these are collectible works
of art.

How should one care for these prints? How should they be framed and
displayed? Have any spray coatings been shown to improve stability,
or should they be avoided?

    **** Moderator's comments: A side note: a good starting place
    for information on inkjet prints is AIC's Electronic Media Group
    <URL:http://aic.stanford.edu/conspec/emg/library/>

John Castronovo
Tech Photo and Imaging


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 16:68
                    Distributed: Friday, May 2, 2003
                       Message Id: cdl-16-68-010
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