The independent research organization "William Imaging Research Institute" published a detailed report in 2016 after a series of tests on metal impressions printed with ChromaLuxe aluminum plates. American ChromaLuxe published an article based on the content of its report , the test report is analyzed in a line-by-line focused manner, making it easier for readers to understand the test report of William Imaging Research Institute (WIR).
Below is our translation of the ChromaLuxe article into Chinese, and the original English text is attached at the end for reference by friends who are interested in learning more about the durability of metal impressions. If you have any further questions, please contact us and we will try our best. Reply to you!
In 2016, William Imaging Research Institute (hereinafter referred to as WIR) conducted a durability test of ChromaLuxe metal printing, which was the first complete report published on the market. The following is the content of the report and includes some notes.
What was tested?
WIR's research tests used two inks to transfer onto ChromaLuxe metal aluminum panels:
- Epson Ultrachrome DS ink
- Sublijet HD Pro Photo XF Sawgrass Ink
What are the results of the test?
- Epson Ultrachrome DS Ink: Wilhelm Display Performance Rating 65 years
- Sublijet HD Pro Photo XF Sawgrass Ink: Wilhelm Display Performance Rating 64 years
What does "display permanence" mean?
The rating represents the number of years before slight fading or changes in color balance may be noticeable to the naked eye under bright light exposure when compared to a new finished image. Under normal lighting conditions, WIR expects ChromaLuxe metal prints to last more than a hundred years.
What are the testing standards?
The results are extrapolated using WIR "Visually Weighted Endpoint Criterion v3.0" under lighting conditions of 450 lux for 12 hours a day.
What is lux? Lux is a unit used to measure the illuminance of a light source, measuring the amount of luminous flux received per unit area. It measures the total amount of visible light present, as well as its illumination intensity.
Do the test results apply to all lighting conditions?
Test results do not apply to all lighting conditions. Lighting conditions in homes, offices, museums and art galleries vary, and when color images are displayed under low illumination, the images will last longer; similarly, if the images are continuously displayed above the 450 lux used in the test, Lifespan will be shortened.
The following are typical illuminance (Lux) in our daily life environment:
- Museums and galleries: 50 – 150 lux (depending on the display medium)
- Hotel room: 100 lux
- Home: 150 – 300 lux
- Retail stores: 300 – 500 lux
- Outdoor (cloudy day): 1,000 lux
- Outdoor (daylight): 10,000 lux
What is the durability rating of ChromaLuxe compared to silver halide photographic paper?
Compared to glass-framed (Kodak) silver halide photo paper, ChromaLuxe metal prints without any frame are three times more durable than silver halide images. Under the same testing parameters, WIR's durability rating was 19 years for Kodak Endura photo paper framed on glass.
Can ChromaLuxe be stored longer if framed in glass?
No, durability is a major advantage of ChromaLuxe, so it does not need to be framed in glass. WIR test results show that placing the ChromaLuxe metal image behind glass has almost no impact on the results.
But isn’t a crystal watch (Diasec) better?
No, the crystal watch is essentially still output on photo paper. If acrylic is directly bonded to the photo surface, the durability of the acrylic crystal watch will be improved and extended by about 25% to 30%, which means that ChromaLuxe metal The storage durability of the image is still 2.3 times that of the crystal watch.
What about acrylic?
As is the case with crystal watches (Diasec), if it's photo paper, it reaches the fading point much faster than ChromaLuxe. In addition, there are many types of acrylic, and the selection of glues and adhesives are also different, which may have a negative impact on the durability of the output work. At the same time, acrylic is not scratch-resistant and easily damaged. In addition, acrylic The weight of gram and crystal watches is also far greater than that of ChromaLuxe.
So what about metal UV direct spraying?
Metal UV direct printing is a completely different process, and its finished product cannot be compared with ChromaLuxe's high gloss and high color saturation. At the same time, UV direct printing reduces the color gamut, and its design is mainly for printing advertising signs, not for printing high-end imaging works.
Some advertisements say that Kodak silver salt photo paper can be stored for more than 100 years. Is this true?
Kodak photo paper developed its own durability test and has used it for many years. Under this internal testing standard, Kodak claims that its photo paper will not fade within 100 years. It is important that we understand the testing methods of Kodak and WIR. There are the following differences:
- Kodak: Use 120 lux light for 12 hours of continuous lighting every day
- WIR: Use 450 lux light per day for 12 hours of continuous lighting
It can be seen that it is easier to achieve the result of not fading for 100 years by testing in Kodak's way. Notably, ChromaLuxe was three times more durable than Kodak photo paper in WIR testing.
Are the test results of Kodak or WIR authoritative in the imaging output industry?
The WIR test method has become the industry standard for image output. Kodak's testing methods only apply to Kodak's internal products and are therefore not widely recognized.
In addition to the fading rating, what else should we pay attention to in the report?
In addition to fading resistance being the most important result in the report, the WIR report also pointed out that ChromaLuxe has excellent water resistance, moisture resistance, and ozone resistance. These added values make ChromaLuxe the best choice for high-end image output.
- ChromaLuxe is durable, lightweight and easy to clean, making it ideal for display in museums, galleries, hotels, public spaces and homes
- ChromaLuxe does not need to be framed with glass or acrylic, which will not affect the viewing experience
- High-gloss ChromaLuxe has a brighter, more vibrant finish than any other glossy photo paper
- Some other photo papers can be stored for hundreds of years, but they all have matte or semi-matte surface materials.
- There are some high-gloss art papers, but they usually contain a layer of barium sulfate clay (Baryta), which does not meet the requirements of acid-free paper.
If you want to know more details about the test, we have detailed instructions in Chinese and English in another article [Technical Report: Wilhelm Research Institute Confirms the Durability of ChromaLuxe] , please refer to it.
