Reducing Inkjet Ink Fade from UV Light (2024)

FAQs

How to protect inkjet prints from fading? ›

After printing, keep prints away from light or display behind glass, which decreases airflow, fading from gasses and some UV exposure problems. If cold storage is not possible, store prints in a dark, dry and cool place. Keep humidity fluctuations to a minimum.

Tips to prevent fading

Storing your writing in any cool and dark place will preserve the ink colors and prevent fading or feathering for many years to come. If you want to go the extra mile, keep them in an opaque container that can be completely sealed. It is also best to keep them away from moisture and humidity.

If you use dye-based inks and you print on PH-neutral, fine-art paper, if you keep your prints dry (the dyes tend to be water-soluble) and out of the light (visible light hastens the oxidation process) – then you can probably expect your prints to last as long as twenty years at the longest.

Most computer printers use ink systems that contain water-soluble dyes. Dyes are typically fugitive, which means that they readily fade when exposed to sunlight or any light source containing UV wavelengths.

Keep ink cartridges sealed in the original package until they are installed. Store at temperatures between -15 and 35 degrees Celsius (5 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit).

Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating The clear acrylic finish produced is a smart choice for waterproofing inkjet prints. In addition to moisture-resistance, it also protects well against UV light rays and has anti-yellowing properties.

Unlike pencil or erasable ink, permanent ink soaks into the paper it is used on. The pigments and dyes in ink are usually dissolved in water and glycol. When these substances evaporate, the pigments and dyes soak into the paper, leaving a mark that will last a long time, if not forever.

Unless you're printing a professional document that requires a high quality finish, switching to draft or economy mode is a great way to conserve your cartridges. Available on most contemporary printers, draft mode speeds up the print process and reduces the amount of ink or toner applied to the page.

Pigment-based inks are unlikely to fade over time and produce more detailed and vibrant results. Produces better results on fine paper. The use of commercial printers that use pigment-based inks reduces the costs of printing in the long run.

Unfortunately, ink, like most things in life, is not permanent. The inks used in print production will all fade over time. The main cause is exposure to light (especially UV), which causes the ink/paper system to oxidize.

Can you restore faded ink? ›

Restoring faded ink requires careful consideration and expertise. There are several techniques that can be used to restore faded ink, depending on the severity of the fading and the type of ink used. One common method is using erasers to gently remove surface dirt or grime that may be obscuring the ink.

Sunlight contains short wavelength UV and visible and infrared energy. UV is the primary cause of degradation in inks, with temperature and moisture acting as secondary stressors that can accelerate the rate of degradation.

Pigment ink has a superior UV resistance and therefore is selected when many years of indoor use or up to two years of outdoor life is required with little fading.

Instead of heat, UV light dries the ink and it only takes a split second. The UV light is normally built into the printing mechanism so that as soon as the printhead deposits the ink onto the substrate, the UV light meets the printed design to cure it instantly.

If you have an HP or a Canon, the inks fade because they react with the air, so laminate your prints to stop them fading. Its worth buying the manufacturers own ink cartridges, but not their own papers. Hewlett Packard, Canon and Lexmark/Dell inkjets heat the ink to boil droplets and project them onto the page.

Fixative Spray – Perhaps the most versatile option and one that can suit a whole host of printed media is the fixative spray. Sprayed onto the printed media directly, this solution adds a layer of transparent protection that when left to dry will allow you to handle the print freely and make it waterproof.

Hahnemühle Protective Spray is suitable for most types of inkjet media. Protects against airborne contamination, ozone and handling damage.

Inkjet printers also fade over time if the ink was dye based. Pigment based ink have longer expected longevity. The best prints are those made by dye/sub printers said to last for 1,000 years.