Wilhelm Imaging Research, an independent testing laboratory whose accelerated test methods are considered the industry standard for establishing print permanence, has been feverishly testing Kodak Easyshare all-in-one printers, ink and
paper. The results are in: Permanence ratings and album/darkstorage ratings were greater than 125 years, while prints exposed to light had permanence ratings of more than 100 years. According to WIR president Henry Wilhelm, "These test results...establish an important, new long-term print permanence benchmark for consumers." With Kodak claiming consumers save 50 percent on the cost of prints using their inkjet printing system, this has to come as good news. In fact, Kodak is forecasting an increase in revenue based on doubling sales of inkjet printers this year.
For details, read the Kodak press release:
Kodak’s Consumer Inkjet Printing Systems Achieve Best-in-Class Print Permanence Ratings from Wilhelm Imaging Research
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The KODAK EASYSHARE All-in-One (AiO) Inkjet Printer line has been extensively tested by a leading independent permanence testing laboratory, Wilhelm Imaging Research (WIR).
According to the results of the industry’s first five-factor print
permanence testing, spearheaded by WIR, the KODAK EASYSHARE AiO Printers
and ink achieved the highest level of overall print permanence of any
current consumer desktop printer system.
The KODAK EASYSHARE AiO printers, ink and media achieved WIR Display
Permanence Ratings and Album/Dark Storage Ratings of greater than 125
years. WIR Unprotected Ozone Resistance Ratings (for example, prints placed
on refrigerators) of more than 100 years were also reported. WIR tests also
showed that the KODAK prints are very resistant to damage in high-humidity
conditions and, even when printed on plain paper, the prints can survive
exposure to accidental water spills.
“These test results with the KODAK Inkjet Printers and pigmented inks
on the full range of seven KODAK Photo Papers and inkjet plain paper
establish an important, new long-term print permanence benchmark for
consumers,” said Henry Wilhelm, president of Wilhelm Imaging Research. “For
consumers, this means that documents and photos printed with KODAK
EASYSHARE AiO Inkjet Printers should be preserved in very good condition
for more than 100 years in all common consumer display and storage
environments.”
WIR, whose test methods have become the de facto industry standard for
both consumer and professional inkjet prints, conducted extensive print
permanence tests on KODAK EASYSHARE AIO 5100, 5300 and 5500 Printers,
pigmented inks and inkjet photo papers to determine image fade resistance
for the five major longevity factors: light, temperature, unprotected
exposure to ambient ozone, high-humidity and contact with water. Using
WIR’s established test method standards, the organization determined that
in all cases, prints from the KODAK Consumer Inkjet Printing System will
resist fading for more than 100 years.
Kodak continues to deliver on its industry-leading initiative to
provide objective, third-party data so that consumers can make informed
purchase decisions when buying a new home inkjet printer. For example,
Kodak also works with industry expert QualityLogic, Inc. for tests of ink
yield to determine KODAK Printers’ cost-of-ink per page. QualityLogic
recently validated that with KODAK EASYSHARE AiO Printers, consumers can
save up to 50 percent on everything they print compared with similar
consumer inkjet printers*.
“We are pleased to deliver on the promise Kodak made to consumers a
year ago — the highest quality documents and photos that last a lifetime
and savings of up to 50 percent on everything they print,” said Susan
Tousi, general manager of Kodak’s Inkjet Systems Division. “The combined
results from independent testing facilities Wilhelm Imaging Resources and
QualityLogic validate Kodak’s EASYSHARE AiO Printer as offering the longest
print permanence and the best value for consumer inkjet printers.”
More information about the results of Wilhelm Imaging Research and
QualityLogic findings regarding KODAK EASYSHARE AiO Printers, advanced
pigmented inks and papers can be found at
http://www.wilhelm-research.com/kodak/5300.html and at
http://www.kodak.com/go/inkdata.
