The technology for printing has advance to a point that it is almost indiscernible between print produces. When done correctly, a glossy print from a personal printer, big-box store, drug store kiosk, or a high end lab all look about the same. Good color saturation and quality of print.

This is generally where the similarities end. The paper and ink combination are critical not only for color, tonality, vibrance, but also longevity. Paper has it’s own technology, ink it’s own, and the printer, it’s own. This does not include the computer or the camera for which the image is initially captured.

PAPER

The construction of paper for inkjet printing is some of the highest technology in paper manufacturing. Once the paper called substrate is manufactured, a number of layers of treatment are applied. These are all chemical treatments that are designed to allow the inks to be absorbed correctly

INK

Inkjet inks are some of the most expensive liquids on earth running up to $8000 per gallon of ink. The technology that goes into ink is incredible. Rather than trying to explain the technology here is an excerpt from a paper by Li Yang in the Characterization of Ink Properties and Ink Jet Printing.

1. The printer controls the process of ink application and the scheme of ink mixing for the generation
   of secondary and tertiary colors. The inks selectively absorb different wavelengths from the illum-ination and produce the visible color output. Therefore characterizations of the output absorption and lighting scattering are of essential importance in controlling and understanding the quality of the color reproduction.
   

In that paper are a number of discussion on spectral reflectance that go way beyond the scope of what we are doing here but if you are so inclined feel free to head over there right here for a mind numbing explanation of ink and its properties.

The following graphics provide a general understanding of how the ink interacts with the paper. The first is the entire process from droplet to dried coatings.

1. A.The drop of ink is shot from the ink nozzle.
   

2. B.When the ink hits the surface of the paper it interacts with the coatings on the paper. This chemically stabilize the ink so it can properly be absorbed into the absorbing layer.
   

3. C.As the ink is absorbed into the paper it will swell until the ink has started to dry.
   

4. D.Up to this point everything has happened in the printer and print head assembly. If you were to touch the paper at this point it would be tacky if not smear-able.
   

5. E.After 24 hours the print is completely dry as the ink

   

   has fully cured.
   

The image to the right shows the cross-section of a fresh sheet of photo ink jet paper. Absorbing layer is designed to work with a many inks. The paper manufacturer provides profiles for the printers to use in determining just how much ink is to be put down on the paper so as not to cause flooding. This is evident when you can see differences in contrast or texture between the various colors of the print.

The next image to the right shows what a professional lab does with prints. The first is a UV coating that protects the ink from fading allowing mush longer archival times. The second is a texture coating that helps to enhance the natural fibers of the paper such as a linen texture.

PRINTER

Earlier I made mention of printer profiles. These are files provided by a paper manufacturer that tells the printer that it is not using the printer manufactures paper and as stated above. Lets say you have an Epson printer and are using Epson ink, and Epson paper. There is nothing you need to do as when you installed the printer, all the profiles were loaded with it. You are probably paying out the nose not only for ink, but paper also.

I would never advocate third party inks, especially budget inks. Paper on the other hand is highly recommended provided you have the profiles for that paper and your printer.

CONCLUSION

A final thought and recommendation on archival quality prints. Do the fast food chains produce vibrant prints, of course they do. Will they remain that way for years to come? That has yet to be determined. A thirteen cent print has no guarantees, you get what you get. You have to ask yourself if that is what you will be happy with.

If you are plastering your refrigerator with 4x6 prints, I’d say go for it. On the other hand, if you are displaying portraiture as art in your living room for all to see, use a professional to produce that art.