Wilhem Imaging Research on HARMAN Technology’s Fiber Base Baryta Inkjet Papers

HARMAN PHOTO, the digital brand of HARMAN technology Limited, has gained formal certification as to the archival properties of its professional inkjet papers. Four products within the range – the HARMAN PHOTO MATT FB Mp, HARMAN PHOTO MATT FB Mp WARMTONE, HARMAN PHOTO GLOSS FB AI and HARMAN PHOTO GLOSS FB AI WARMTONE – all secured permanence ratings of more 200 years* in tests recently concluded by Wilhelm Imaging Research (WIR). (Full test results can be viewed at www.wilhelm-research.com)

This impressive figure relates to the time taken before noticeable fading and/or changes in color balance occurs and applies to prints produced using HP inks and then displayed under glass, framed with a UV filter or stored in an album or under dark conditions. Following WIR’s Certified Image Permanence Testing Program, the world’s foremost authority on image permanence also certified the papers as having a very high resistance to humidity and as being able to resist the powerful oxidizing affects of Ozone for at least 100 years.

The recent findings serve to offer the global photographic community total reassurance as to the incredible longevity of HARMAN PHOTO professional inkjet papers as well as the ability to make instant comparisons against products from other manufacturers. A totally independent organisation, WIR has researched the stability and preservation of traditional and digitally printed photographs and films for a wide range of clients over the last 35 years. This includes products submitted by Canon, Epson, Fuji, Kodak, Hahnemuehle, Hewlett-Packard and Lexmark, ultimately enabling it to provide consumers with unbiased ratings across an enormous array of media.

HARMAN technology attributes the success of its HARMAN PHOTO professional inkjet papers to the quality-focused method of their production, to their fiber base and in particular to their use of a complete Baryta coating. More commonly associated with darkroom developed photographic papers, Baryta not only ensures greater detail and definition and an extended tonal range, it also prevents image degradation. This has led to Baryta fiber base papers becoming the benchmark for archival photographic images.

Speaking of the certification, Director of Marketing at HARMAN technology, Steven Brierley, said: "We are delighted with the results from the recent testing of the HARMAN PHOTO professional range by Wilhelm Imaging Research. Their rigorous testing program now covers more than 90% of the world’s leading inkjet printer, ink and inkjet photo paper producers, and has become arguably one of the most respected ways of making like-for-like comparisons between different manufacturer’s products.

”To be awarded a permanence rating of 200 years across all four of our high-end digital papers is fantastic news. Not only does it give photographers independent verification of our own internal testing, but it also highlights how we’ve taken all the experience, insight and coating expertise acquired producing ILFORD black and white photography products for over 100 years and encapsulated it in a truly high-performance inkjet range.

www.harmantechnology.com
www.harman-inkjet.com
www.ilfordphoto.com
www.kentmere.co.uk
www.wilhelm-research.com

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