Light fastness of large format ink jet media

Large format ink jet media is widely used for graphic arts and display applications. Many large format media are printed with dye-based inks and used for in-door applications. These media are exposed indirectly to sunlight or strong indoor lighting. The color fading rates of these prints in application settings could be different from that predicted according to DeltaE in a fadeometer. In this paper, we will compare light fastness test results of ink jet prints in fadeometer and other lighting conditions. Since faded color prints are not desirable for end-users, various ways to improve light fastness of ink jet prints have been employed by ink and media manufacturers. This paper will also discuss effects of resins and inorganic additives in coatings on light fastness of ink jet prints.