The independent research organization "Williams Imaging Research Institute" published a detailed report in 2016 after a series of tests on metal images printed on ChromaLuxe aluminum plates. ChromaLuxe in the United States published an article based on its report , the test report is analyzed in an orderly manner, making it easier for readers to understand the test report of William Imaging Research Institute (WIR).
The following is our translation of the ChromaLuxe article into Chinese, and the original English text is attached at the end, for the reference of friends who are interested in further understanding the durability of metal impressions. If you have any further questions, please contact us, we will do our best Reply to you!
In 2016, William Imaging Research Institute (hereinafter referred to as WIR) conducted the durability test of ChromaLuxe metal printing, which is the first complete report on the market. The following is the content of the report, including some notes.
What was tested?
WIR's research tests used two inks transferred onto a ChromaLuxe metal aluminum plate:
- Epson Ultrachrome DS Ink
- Sublijet HD Pro Photo XF Sawgrass Ink
What is the result 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 the term "display permanence" mean?
Ratings represent slight fading, or changes in color balance, that may be noticeable to the naked eye when compared to a freshly finished image in bright light. Under typical lighting conditions, WIR expects ChromaLuxe metal impressions to last over a hundred years.
What is the test standard?
The results were extrapolated using the WIR "Visual Weighted Endpoint Criterion v3.0" under the lighting conditions of 450 lux for 12 hours a day.
What is Lux (lux)? Lux (lux) is a unit used to measure the illuminance of a light source, and measures the luminous flux received per unit area. It measures the total amount of visible light present, and its illumination intensity.
Are the test results applicable to all lighting conditions?
Test results are not applicable to all lighting conditions. Lighting conditions in homes, offices, museums, and galleries vary, and images will last longer when displaying color images in low-light conditions; will be shortened.
The following are typical illuminance (Lux) in our daily life environment:
- Museums and galleries: 50 – 150 lux (depending on display medium)
- Hotel room: 100 lux
- Home: 150 – 300 lux
- Retail store: 300 – 500 lux
- Outdoor (cloudy): 1,000 lux
- Outdoor (Daylight): 10,000 lux
How does ChromaLuxe's durability rating compare to silver halide photo paper?
ChromaLuxe metal prints without any mounting are three times as durable as silver halide prints compared to glass-framed (Kodak) silver halide prints. Under the same test parameters, WIR has a durability rating of 19 years on glass-framed Kodak Endura photo paper.
Will the ChromaLuxe last longer if it is framed in glass?
No, durability is one of ChromaLuxe's strengths, so it doesn't need to be framed in glass. The WIR test results showed that placing the ChromaLuxe Metal Imprint behind glass had little effect on the results.
But isn't a crystal watch (Diasec) better?
No, the crystal watch is essentially still outputting works on photo paper. If acrylic is directly bonded to the surface of the photo, the durability of the acrylic crystal watch will be improved by about 25% to 30%, which means that ChromaLuxe metal The preservation durability of the impression is still 2.3 times that of the crystal watch.
What about acrylic?
As is the case with crystal watches (Diasec), if it is a photo paper, it reaches the point of fading much faster than ChromaLuxe. In addition, there are many types of acrylic, and the choice of glue and adhesive is 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 easy to damage. Both the acrylic and crystal watches weigh far more than ChromaLuxe.
So what about metal UV direct injection?
Metal UV Direct Injection is a completely different process and the finished product cannot compare to ChromaLuxe's high gloss and high color saturation. At the same time, UV direct injection reduces the color gamut, and its design is mainly for printing advertising signs, not for printing high-end video works.
Some advertisements say that Kodak silver halide photo paper can last for more than 100 years. Is this true?
Kodak photo papers have developed their own durability tests and have used them for many years. Under this internal test standard, Kodak claims that its photo paper will not fade for 100 years. It is important that we understand the Kodak and WIR testing methods, there are the following differences:
- Kodak: use 120 lux of light per day, continuous lighting for 12 hours
- WIR: use 450 lux of light per day, continuous lighting for 12 hours
It can be seen that it is relatively easy to achieve the result of 100 years of non-fading with Kodak's method of testing. Notably, ChromaLuxe was three times more durable than Kodak photo paper in the WIR test.
Is it the test results of Kodak or WIR that are authoritative in the image output industry?
The WIR test method has become the industry standard for video output. The methods tested by Kodak apply only to Kodak's internal products and are therefore not widely accepted.
Apart from faded ratings, is there anything else to look out for 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 is not afraid of ozone. 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 in the home
- ChromaLuxe does not require glass or acrylic framing to compromise viewing experience
- ChromaLuxe, a high-gloss finish, is glossier and more vibrant than any other glossy photo paper
- Some other photo papers can also be preserved for a hundred years, but they are all matte or semi-matte surface materials
- There are some high-gloss art papers, but they often contain layers of barium sulfate clay (Baryta) and do not qualify as acid-free papers
