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Printer ink preservative.
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Jan 1, 2012 11:00:40   #
rayford2 Loc: New Bethlehem, PA
 
For lack of words I picked "preservative" as a topic.

I have an HP 385 portable 4 x 6 printer that I carry to different functions. It makes good pictures, but there's a "fly in the ointment" (an old saying).
The ink used to print pictures is water soluable (?) and anything wet will smear the ink, even when dry.
Is there something that can be applied to the picture to make the ink stay put?
I keep thinking about those fixer applicators Polaroid used on their early cameras.

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Jan 1, 2012 11:17:41   #
MT Shooter Loc: Montana
 
Lamination is about the only thing that works on HP inks. I quit using HP a long time ago because the inks have literally NO archival capability.

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Jan 1, 2012 11:57:42   #
rayford2 Loc: New Bethlehem, PA
 
MT Shooter wrote:
Lamination is about the only thing that works on HP inks. I quit using HP a long time ago because the inks have literally NO archival capability.


Never thought of that, thanks MT
By the way, who does make a good archival ink?

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Jan 1, 2012 12:12:08   #
RTR Loc: West Central Alabama
 
rayford2 wrote:

Never thought of that, thanks MT
By the way, who does make a good archival ink?


I would like to know that too. I have an HP printer I am about to stop using.

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Jan 1, 2012 12:13:56   #
MT Shooter Loc: Montana
 
Epson makes some good archival ink, but only for their high end printers. Kodak's Dye Sub process is good too. But all high quality home printing will always cost you more than using a professional processor. Home printers are best used for proofing, not permanent printing.

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Jan 1, 2012 12:33:21   #
CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver
 
RTR wrote:
rayford2 wrote:

Never thought of that, thanks MT
By the way, who does make a good archival ink?


I would like to know that too. I have an HP printer I am about to stop using.


First, be sure any printer you consider is a Photo Printer - not some all-in-one thing.

The Epson pigment ink printers (actually, any of the pigment ink printers) will give you archival prints - about 100 years for color and 175 or more for B&W.

The dye inks have become much more permanent, but not to the degree of the pigment inks.

The Epson, Canon, and HP professional printers will give results equal to or better than, any professional lab. Of course it requires you to become reasonably proficient with monitor profiling and the whole color-management workflow thing.

But to be practical - you need to do a lot of printing to justify printers that cost $400.00 and up - and I do mean UP!

You also need to print regularly to keep the ink from drying and clogging the jets.

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Jan 1, 2012 14:07:19   #
RTR Loc: West Central Alabama
 
[quote=CaptainC
You also need to print regularly to keep the ink from drying and clogging the jets.[/quote]

Thanks CaptainC. I guess I will keep the old printer after all. I have uploaded files to Camera America and they do a good job a far as I can tell. Pick up same day too.

I do want to get into the monitor profiling though but it seems awful pricey for an amateur photo taker.

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Jan 1, 2012 16:09:41   #
rayford2 Loc: New Bethlehem, PA
 
Thanks, MT RTR and Capt. C.
That answers my question.

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Jan 1, 2012 19:08:51   #
sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL
 
Check with photo supply sources for a protective/waterproof spray.

I use it on bumper stickers I make personally.

Sarge

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Jan 1, 2012 19:12:48   #
RobertMaxey
 
Naw . . . learn Tri-Color Carbo or dye transfer. In your will, leave the separations to a trusted family member so 100,000 years later, the color will be available.

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Jan 1, 2012 19:15:18   #
Roger Salls Loc: Stratford, CT
 
Rayford are you shooting for fun or profit? If you're shooting for profit then you need a dyesub printer such as a Sony Snap Lab or Mitsubishi. They both will make either 4x6 or 5x7 prints that are durable but you're looking at $1400.
rayford2 wrote:
For lack of words I picked "preservative" as a topic.

I have an HP 385 portable 4 x 6 printer that I carry to different functions. It makes good pictures, but there's a "fly in the ointment" (an old saying).
The ink used to print pictures is water soluable (?) and anything wet will smear the ink, even when dry.
Is there something that can be applied to the picture to make the ink stay put?
I keep thinking about those fixer applicators Polaroid used on their early cameras.
For lack of words I picked "preservative"... (show quote)

Reply
 
 
Jan 2, 2012 08:09:44   #
Image1 Loc: Delaware
 
There is a product that has been around for years, it is used for protecting Water Color Art. It is called "Art and Print Fixitive'. comes in a spray can.
You can find it in almost every craft store.
I have been using this method for years to protect my HP prints and for anything I don"t want fingerprints to show on. Cheap alternative to an expensive printer.
Regards and good luck. Image1
:thumbup: :thumbup:

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Jan 2, 2012 10:08:58   #
rayford2 Loc: New Bethlehem, PA
 
Thanks to all who replied.
...Loooks like I have two alternatives here.
Purchasing a dedicated photo printer using dye-sub or pigment ink isn't feasable for me at this time. As CaptC pointed out these have to be used regularly to keep the ink heads operable and it's too expensive for what this amateur does.
Sarge and Image1 recommended spray "fixitive" and MT shooter says laminate. I can see where both of these methods are relatively inexpensive and useful in their own way for an amateur..Thanks again.

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Jan 2, 2012 10:20:03   #
candick Loc: Tampa Bay
 
Hey Cap; Just want to thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I look forward to your comments and you are responsible for my being a little bit sharper; day by day. Thanks again.

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Jan 2, 2012 11:29:07   #
aleone63 Loc: Some place in Wisconsin
 
I have a HP 8200 series photo printer... it is about 5 years old and I haven't had issues that I know of yet... sbut I really just got into printing my photos for a small gift shop that is looking at selling them... should I look into something different?

CaptainC wrote:
RTR wrote:
rayford2 wrote:

Never thought of that, thanks MT
By the way, who does make a good archival ink?


I would like to know that too. I have an HP printer I am about to stop using.


First, be sure any printer you consider is a Photo Printer - not some all-in-one thing.

The Epson pigment ink printers (actually, any of the pigment ink printers) will give you archival prints - about 100 years for color and 175 or more for B&W.

The dye inks have become much more permanent, but not to the degree of the pigment inks.

The Epson, Canon, and HP professional printers will give results equal to or better than, any professional lab. Of course it requires you to become reasonably proficient with monitor profiling and the whole color-management workflow thing.

But to be practical - you need to do a lot of printing to justify printers that cost $400.00 and up - and I do mean UP!

You also need to print regularly to keep the ink from drying and clogging the jets.
quote=RTR quote=rayford2 br Never thought of th... (show quote)

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