What is Archival Paper?
The prints are done on archival paper. ‘Archival’ indicates that the paper is ‘acid free’. That means the paper will last hundreds of years without yellowing or deterioration. The right paper is extremely important. But equally important (if not more so) are the inks used. Dye based inks, like those found in home printers, have a relatively short life-span. After even a few months in sunlight or even daylight, dye based inks will be faded. Inks used in Giclées of my artwork are pigment based, like oil paints, and therefore fade much more slowly. In fact, pigment based inks have been shown to last as long as 150 years in normal lighting conditions!
Newspaper, for instance, will become a brittle and discolored artifact in a very short time as a result of acids which remain in the paper when it is made. Acid-free paper, by contrast, is a permanent and more stable medium. When a gicle is produced with Archival Museum quality Acid Free Paper and framed using UV Conservation glass, the collector can be confident that the art is a permanent and stable legacy for future generations to enjoy. What is UV Conservation Glass? Museums, Galleries and Art Collectors prefer UV Conservation Glass for its ability to help protect the color and quality of original art works and prints from the Suns harmful UV rays. How are Gail Russell Miniatures Reproduced? These images are reproduced by making Gicle prints on 100 % acid free, tree-free archival paper, using a Professional wide bed printer with eight colors of archival pigment inks. This method has shown to produce an image permanence against fading of over 100 years by the recognized authority, W
Many important documents need to be preserved for extended periods of time. Conventional paper products will slowly degrade, thanks to the high level of acid which normally exists in paper. Archival paper is made slightly alkaline or with a neutral pH so that it will not yellow and turn brittle with age. Most paper companies offer archival papers in their line for archivists, governments, libraries, and artists. However, it is important to remember that archival paper is only useful under the right conditions. Two primary factors contribute to the degradation of conventional paper. The first is lignin, a component of the cell walls in plants. Lignin will turn yellow as it is exposed to heat, causing yellowing paper. Acid makes the paper more fragile, thin, and brittle. Newspapers provide perhaps the best example of the antithesis of archival paper, since they are made as cheaply as possible, as most people recycle them after one reading. Newspapers quickly turn yellow and brittle, an u
Acid free and lignin free paper that lasts longer than other papers and holds color well is referred to as archival paper. With a quality lifetime of 100 years or longer, archival paper is often used for critical, permanent records that must be kept for many years. Lena Johnson uses archival materials exclusively to produce her contemporary photography work.
Archival paper is acid-free and lignin-free. Acid eventually will destroy the paper and lignin will oxidize it, turning it yellow. Old yellow newspapers offer a good example of lignin’s effect. Obviously, you want the dissertation to last much longer. Look for archival paper that is both acid- and lignin-free. Also consider archival ink. Printer ink is normally dye-based, and it can fade. Copyright 2004, WestStar TalkRadio Network. All rights reserved. Kim Komando hosts the nation’s largest talk radio show about computers and the Internet. To find the station nearest you broadcasting Kim’s show, visit komando.com/findkimonair.asp. To subscribe to Kim’s free weekly e-mail newsletters, sign up at komando.com/newsletter.asp. Have a question? Send a note to us at gnstech@gns.gannett.com and we’ll forward the best to Kim.
