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tim atherton
5-Jan-2004, 10:26
I've been reading the recently (last couple of years?) Ilford has quite dramatically reduced the longevity ratings for Ilfochrome?

Is this so? Does anyone else knwo of this this?

Apparently there is an Ilford publications out there with these "new" figures. I ahven't managed to find it, but only anm apparent quote from it that has the following for dispaly prints (I don't thinkl the fornmatting will hold up on the post, but you should be able to makje sense of it...):

"These are the best numbers in the book and a 30 percent fade is pretty significant. The next page in the book gives 2-3 years for a 10 percent fade on an unprotected glossy print. One chart shows that for a 30% fade, a print on display in a store window would take less than two years even when sealed in firmasec, much less than six months unprotected.

CONDITIONS: INDOORS/1/INDOORS/2

Commercial quality-indoors 30% fading from original density of 1.0

Normal conditions, protected from direct sunlight at least 7 feet from a window (i.e. living rooms, offices and museums. 45-55% RH).

Light intensity approximately:

Normal: 500 LUX for 12 hours per day

Medium: 1000 LUX for 12 hours per day

(under spotlights in exhibits)



CIBACHROME MATERIAL: PROTECTION: THEORETICAL VALUE IN YRS:

NORMAL MEDIUM

500 lux 1000 lux

GLOSSY PRINT MATERIAL(CPS) UNPROTECTED 10 5

GLOSSY PRINT MATERIAL(CPS) BEHIND GLASS 15 8

GLOSSY PRINT MATERIAL(CPS) POLYESTER LAMINATING 40 20

FILM WITH EDGES SEALED

GLOSSY PRINT MATERIAL(CPS) HEATSEAL LAMINATION 30 15

GLOSSY PRINT MATERIAL(CPS) SPECTRALITE OR 80 40

FIRMASEC

RC PEARL COLOR PAPER (CRC) UNPROTECTED 8 4

RC PEARL COLOR PAPER (CRC) BEHIND GLASS 12 6

RC PEARL COLOR PAPER (CRC) HEATSEAL LAMINATION 24 12

end quote"

But then I though Ilfo/Cibachrome never had very good longevity for display anyway...? Did Ilford always used to give these kind of figures for display?

Bill_1856
5-Jan-2004, 10:41
My Cibachrome prints from the 1970s haven't faded, but rather have actually darkened a little. Those which were sparyed with lacquer seem to still be in original condition.

John O'Connell
5-Jan-2004, 10:44
The display lifespan for Ilfochrome is certainly not shocking. Ilfochrome's dark stability was always its great strength.

I'm not familiar with the exact dye set used in Ilfochrome, but my experience with diazo dyes would lead me to believe that the prints would need to be treated with care to avoid fading -- under direct daylight, the lightfastness of diazo dyes is measured in hours.

Brian Ellis
6-Jan-2004, 05:35
Hmmmmm. Sounds like Ilfochrome has gone digital.