LONG BEACH, Calif.,
April 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Epson America, Inc. today achieved a
milestone in photographic ink technology and print longevity with
preliminary print permanence ratings for its all-new Epson
UltraChrome® HD pigment ink technology, according to
comprehensive tests conducted by Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc.
(WIR), the world's leading independent permanence testing
laboratory. While accelerated display permanence tests are still
underway, the data accumulated to date indicates that UltraChrome
HD pigment inks can provide up to twice the WIR Display Permanence
Ratings of previous generations of Epson UltraChrome inks with most
Epson photo and fine art papers.
In addition, preliminary data from ongoing tests indicate that,
depending on the specific paper, WIR Display Permanence Ratings for
black and white prints made with UltraChrome HD inks using Epson's
"Advanced Black and White Print Mode" will likely exceed 400
years.
WIR's multi-factor print permanence test procedures, which go
far beyond just the effects of accelerated light exposure, evaluate
all of the display and storage factors that can affect the life of
a print over time. Prints made on Epson fine art photo papers and
canvas with the new UltraChrome HD pigment inks are also expected
to have WIR Album and Dark Storage Permanence Ratings well in
excess of 200 years; the prints exhibit high resistance to
atmospheric ozone; have very good water-resistance properties; and,
the pigment images are extremely resistant to damage caused by
storage or display in high-humidity environments.
"Epson continues to develop photographic printing and ink
technologies that inspire photographers to print their art," said
Mark Radogna, group manager, Epson
Professional Imaging. "Utilizing eight newly developed
high-stability pigment inks – cyan, magenta, yellow, black, light
cyan, light magenta, light black, and light light black – the
latest Epson UltraChrome HD inkset offers professionals an amazing
tool to produce stunning prints that will preserve their
photographic legacy far into the future."
The following papers are currently in testing at Wilhelm Imaging
Research; additional papers and canvas materials will be added in
the near future:
- Epson Cotton Rag Matte Paper
- Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster
- Epson Exhibition Fiber Paper
- Epson Hot Press Bright Fine Art Paper
- Epson Hot Press Natural Fine Art Paper
- Epson Cold Press Bright Fine Art Paper
- Epson Cold Press Natural Fine Art Paper
- Epson Exhibition Watercolor Paper Textured
Epson UltraChrome HD ink is featured in Epson's new professional
suite of large-format photographic ink jet printers – the Epson
SureColor® P600 13-inch photo printer and Epson
SureColor P800 17-inch photo printer – and will continue in future
product releases.
"With the increased Dmax, wider color gamut, and reduced
metamerism provided by the new Epson UltraChrome HD pigment inks –
which taken together serve to significantly enhance the visual
brilliance of both color and black and white images – the increased
overall permanence of the prints represents a significant
contribution to photography," said Henry
Wilhelm, founder and director of research at Wilhelm Imaging
Research. "We look forward to posting print permanence test results
for the new inks on a variety of media as the data become
available. It is one of the realities of the print permanence
testing field that the more stable the print, the longer the tests
take to complete."
For details about the Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc.
multi-factor permanence testing procedures, visit
http://www.wilhelm-research.com. For additional information
regarding Epson large-format photo printers and Epson professional
media, visit www.proimaging.epson.com.
About Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc.
Wilhelm Imaging
Research, Inc. has for over 35 years conducted research on the
stability and preservation of traditional and digitally-printed
color and black-and-white photographs and motion pictures. As an
independent testing laboratory, WIR publishes on its website
brand-name-specific, comparative permanence data for desktop and
large-format inkjet printers and other digital printing devices.
The comprehensive multi-factor test methods developed by WIR have
become the de facto standard worldwide for evaluating the
permanence of color and black and white photographs. A major
research activity of WIR has been the development of improved
accelerated image permanence tests and advanced, full tonal scale,
colorimetric analysis methods for the fading and staining that
occurs with color and black-and-white photographic images over
time. Wilhelm Imaging Research also provides consulting services to
museums, archives, and commercial collections on refrigerated and
sub-zero freezer storage for the very long-term preservation of
still photographs and motion pictures.
(http://www.wilhelm-research.com)
About Epson
Epson is a global innovation leader
dedicated to exceeding expectations with solutions for markets as
diverse as the office, home, commerce, and industry. Epson's lineup
ranges from inkjet printers, printing systems and 3LCD projectors
to industrial robots, smart glasses and sensing systems and is
based on original compact, energy-saving, and high-precision
technologies.
Led by the Japan-based Seiko
Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises more than 72,000
employees in 94 companies around the world, and is proud of its
ongoing contributions to the global environment and the communities
in which it operates. Epson America,
Inc. based in Long Beach, Calif.
is Epson's regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin
America. To learn more about Epson, please visit:
www.epson.com.
You may also connect with Epson
America on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Epson), Twitter
(http://twitter.com/EpsonAmerica) and YouTube
(http://www.youtube.com/EpsonAmerica).
Note: EPSON, SureColor, UltraChrome are registered trademarks
and Epson Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko
Epson Corporation. All other product and brand names are trademarks
and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson
disclaims any and all rights in these marks.
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SOURCE Epson