With the growing popularity of inexpensive inkjet photo printers, more and more consumers are printing photos at home instead of buying prints from a photo lab.  What many consumers may not realize, however, is that inkjet prints are often more prone to color fading and other problems than traditional prints from a photo lab.  Canon aims to solve this problem with their ChromaLife technologies. 

ChromaLife, or ChromaLife 100, is a combination of specialized inks and specialized papers designed to resist color fading over many years, unlike traditional ink and paper.  The system uses special ink in CMYK format and special paper, both of which are more resistant to fading and other problems that can affect inkjet prints in the long term. 

Canon claims that their inks and paper can provide up to 100 years in a photo album away from light sources and other harmful conditions.  They also claim that prints can resist fading for up to 30 years under normal lighting conditions.  They claim up to 10 years of gas fastness, which is resistance to fading that is caused by mixed gases that can often be harmful to photos and prints.  Lastly, they claim that ChromaLife prints are more resistant to heat and humidity than traditional inks and paper.

The long term results of ChromaLife technologies are generally unproven, though Canon has performed simulated tests that are designed to accelerate results.  They believe that these tests show an improvement in fade resistance.  Canon is careful to point out that they cannot guarantee the longevity of prints, as many factors can contribute to color fading and other problems, such as storage conditions, environmental factors, and drying times.

While it is unclear what effect the Canon ChromaLife technology will have in the long term, Canon is taking steps to improve the longevity of inkjet prints.  In any case, this will certainly be a benefit to the ongoing improvement of inkjet technology.

With the growing popularity of inexpensive inkjet photo printers, more and more consumers are printing photos at home instead of buying prints from a photo lab.  What many consumers may not realize, however, is that inkjet prints are often more prone to color fading and other problems than traditional prints from a photo lab.  Canon aims to solve this problem with their ChromaLife technologies. 

ChromaLife, or ChromaLife 100, is a combination of specialized inks and specialized papers designed to resist color fading over many years, unlike traditional ink and paper.  The system uses special ink in CMYK format and special paper, both of which are more resistant to fading and other problems that can affect inkjet prints in the long term. 

Canon claims that their inks and paper can provide up to 100 years in a photo album away from light sources and other harmful conditions.  They also claim that prints can resist fading for up to 30 years under normal lighting conditions.  They claim up to 10 years of gas fastness, which is resistance to fading that is caused by mixed gases that can often be harmful to photos and prints.  Lastly, they claim that ChromaLife prints are more resistant to heat and humidity than traditional inks and paper.

The long term results of ChromaLife technologies are generally unproven, though Canon has performed simulated tests that are designed to accelerate results.  They believe that these tests show an improvement in fade resistance.  Canon is careful to point out that they cannot guarantee the longevity of prints, as many factors can contribute to color fading and other problems, such as storage conditions, environmental factors, and drying times.

While it is unclear what effect the Canon ChromaLife technology will have in the long term, Canon is taking steps to improve the longevity of inkjet prints.  In any case, this will certainly be a benefit to the ongoing improvement of inkjet technology.