Gear Talk > Processing & Publication
Optical brightening agents (OBA)
Ian Watson:
May I please pick your brains? I am taking a deeper look at inkjet photo papers, not least with a view towards longevity.
Optical brightening agents, also known as optical brighteners or OBAs, make a paper appear more white by absorbing ultraviolet light and re-emitting it, usually towards the blue end of the spectrum. These gradually degrade with exposure.
Some sources hold that the ideal is no OBAs in a photo paper. Yet a number of eminent manufacturers claim exceptional longevity even for papers with what seems to be termed "low amounts" of OBAs. So it is probably a bit complicated.
My point of reference is a number of prints from the early 1960s that my father-in-law has. They were made by a professional and still look very, very good. It would be nice to think that my children might treasure a few of mine a few decades from now.
All advice and information will be gratefully received!
Frank Fremerey:
Inkjet technology in the longevity and quality sense of the current "large pigment ink" following Epsons breaktrough developments many years ago, has not existed in the 1960ies. So you will probably dealing with C-prints or Baryta-prints on photo paper made by Ilford, Kodak or Fuji and the like.
The worst of these can keep original colors for 40 years, the best for 80 years. A moment please, I will find you a reference point:
Frank Fremerey:
this would be my reference point: http://www.wilhelm-research.com/
Erik Lund:
Long time ago I looked into inks and paper and also came up with Epson.
Please remember; Everything is impermanent...
Ian Watson:
--- Quote from: Frank Fremerey on April 18, 2023, 09:18:34 ---So you will probably dealing with C-prints or Baryta-prints on photo paper made by Ilford, Kodak or Fuji and the like.
The worst of these can keep original colors for 40 years, the best for 80 years.
--- End quote ---
Thank you, Frank.
The prints from the '60s are fibre-based darkroom prints. Properly made, they can last. It looks like modern inkjet prints with pigment inks (which I have) will do nicely.
Ironically, I love Ilford's Gold Fibre Silk but that isn't made any more. It has a small amount of OBAs. I never worried about it until I started reading.
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