How to best resist fading of a print that will be exposed to sunlight.

[mike_scott2]

I need to make a color print of a graphic file (not a photo - think a

color cartoon or map that's outdoors hanging on a post - not the

case, but close enough) which will be subject to direct (though not

constant) exposure to sunlight and I'm wondering how to produce

something that will not fade (or will fade least quickly).

 

I'm wondering how I should produce the print - I have access to a

Fuji Frontier, an Epson 2200 or a Xerox Phaser 7700 color laser

printer. I also wonder if there is a coating or laminate that can be

placed over the image. It will be sealed behind glass (a couple of

inches below the surface), so there will no exposure to water. The

image size is small - less than 4x6".

 

So, what do you recommend? Will one of the listed printers do the

job? All suggestions and solutions will be greatly appreciated.

[j._scott_schrader]

Have your artwork printed on vinyl sign material by a company

that creates outdoor signs and billboards. It won't last forever,

but you'll have better longevity than prints from any of the printers

you mentioned. You are dealing with the worst enemy of

anything printed on photographic media ....Sunlight/UV. This is

why collectors of photography ...(especially those that collect for

investment purposes) don't even display thier work....they keep

the work in dark storage.

[david_hansen8]

It would also help to get some UV coated glass (you can get it from a framery)to use in the mounting.

[mike_scott2]

Thanks for the replies so far. I'll certainly look into the sign maker. If I want to experiment on my own first, which of the three printers listed would be best? I may have overstated my cause for concern. The print will have some UV exposure, but not daily.

[wogears]

Hi!

 

This is partly guesswork, but based on experience. I do NOT mean to disparage the Epson, but I think that in your case--some sunlight exposure--the Fuji (on Crystal Archive paper) would be somewhat superior. (Skip the laser printer.) I have seen these prints hang in sunlit windows for months without any visible fading compared to a dark-kept copy. UV glazing is somewhat overrated, since all glass is fairly UV opaque, but it does give an added measure of protection at some wavelengths.

[sjmurray]

Check out this site:

 

http://www.livick.com/method/inkjet/pg1.htm