Paper Print

Try laminating if they are loose sheets.

Thanks very much!

The base paper is 60 gsm. As you know that laminatiom on small gsm paper, the base paper will curve. Is there any method to solve this problem?

Is the wood-free paper full of acid or something like that? Sorry to ask a question in return.

I don't think the paper is to bame. It's the pigments that are bleaching. Are there more blue and green tones left? Were felt pens used? If that is the case take some digital photos and store them. Hide your paper prints somewhere dark and dry to avoid contact with UV light. In future use high quality pigments on acid free paper. Good luck.

ky, How's it going?! Still got those metal-eating phantoms in your studio?

Thanks for asking vermin. I saw this myth busters episode with the insect spray bombs and the next day I nuked my studio. Who or whatever they were they have not survived.

The metal eating has stopped but that could also be due to the time of year. It's winter now were we are and that could have an influence on this bloody pest as well. I never identified the culprit but summer will be back and I will keep an eye on things and let you know. I still have the effected tubes isolated and will send them to a lab for examination if things get out of hand again. Coming to think of it I will check on them today.

Winter is very harsh around here (+10 to 25 deg C). It makes it easy to recognize the tourists because they are the ones running around in T-shirts and other flimsy gear. If it would only be as easy with the metal eating bugs, life would be perfect.

ky,

Thanks for replying! I'm sure I'm not the only one eager to find out what your research shows. Maybe bug-bomb again at the first signs of spring.

If you do take the tubes to a lab, please be sure to let us all know what they come up with.

Happy painting,

vermin

You have a few options. Laminating as discussed above,

Clear coat with a UV protectant ink would be another.

Using UV Resistant inks would be another.

It all really depends on the process you are currently using to print on it. Talk to your ink vendor and ask them for suggestions and talk to your paper vendor and do the same. Get them to work together and come up with a solution. Thats what we do when we have problems here that are similar.

The above suggestions are what will resolve alot of our difficulties but we print on some very odd substrates here.

woodfree paper should not be consider as very odd substrates if you are in the field of printed paper package. Anyway, your suggestions are very useful to me. Perhaps we ought to contact our vendor to deal with this problem. Many thanks.

Monica (lovely name),

At this point, I have more questions for you than answer. But, let's get things going here and see if we can find you an answer.

First, what is it that you are trying to do? Do you have a portrait or other artwork that you wish to post for public viewing for long time (10-plus years? 100-plus years)? Or do you have a document you wish to archive? Or something else?

Second, what kind of base material do you have? OK, you are working with wood-free paper. Does that mean it is cotton based (similar to US currency?) Is their synthetic fiber (polyester, nylon) in the base sheet?

Third, is there a particular kind of printing process and ink/pigment/dyes/colorant that you prefer? There are very particular combinations of paper, printing process and inks/dyes that are intended for longevity. Mind you, this is not what you will generally find on the shelves in big box stores. If you wish to learn more, search for a field of art known as 'giclee', pronounced something like 'zhe-clay'.

There are some very talented people in this area. I won't claim expertise but I can guide you to those who are.

Regards,

WM

Hi, Walter Mitty

Firstly, thanks for your reply.

1. we are a manufacturer of printed paper package. We have folded the mentioned printed paper into carrie bag. But after three months storage, the color degraded. We can not sale products in this condition to our customer. Actually, they are useless now. So we are eage to solve this problem to avoid loss in the future.

2.No, that's a kind of paper and made of wood pulp.

3.Both the base paper and the ink are very common in the field of printing.

I am very insterented in the field "giclee" and "zhe-clay". If you 'd like to introduce them to me, i will be very glad.

Many thanks!

Monica

Monica,

I'd say that giclee is not what you require for your business application. But, from an artistic standpoint it's really an interest subject. You can learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gicl%C3%A9e or http://painting.about.com/cs/printing/a/gilceeprints_2.htm. There are several firms who are quite well known for their work. Search the internet and you will learn much more. Enjoy!

With regard to your printed bags where the color has degraded, you may have to do a thorough quality investigation. It may be that the paper is too acidic and affects the colorant; you'll have to work with your paper supplier to ensure that the paper is of consistent quality. Also, it may be that the paper is exposed to too much light while it is in your warehouse. Light can affect both the paper and the coloring agent. Finally, it may be that the ink is of poor quality or was not applied correctly.

Three months is not a long time to store paper so you should be able to solve this problem. If you need more assistance, please feel free to write.

Walter

Dear Walter,

Thank you so much.

I am very insterested in giclee. I will try to search it. Thanks.

Your suggestions about my paper bag are quite useful to me. I will do something to trace this problem.

Best wishes,

Monica

Wood free paper but uses wood pulp? Bagasse?

Colors degrade? Does that mean for example that a blue ink would turn grey, and/or a red yellow? Or do the colors remain the same and just lose strength and gloss?

What kind of print process are you using (I am familier with printing high end paper bags via litho and lower end sacks via flexo) or generically what type of ink?

i.e. oil based, water based, solvent, or UV?

Is the ink striking through the bag? That is can you see the ink coming through the non-printed side of the bag?

Without knowing the answers to the above, I would suggest you size the paper. That is coat it, with a clear coating of similar chemistry to your ink system and then print on top of that size coat. This might reduce the ink paper interaction if that is what is happening or reduce or eliminate the ability of the ink to dive into the paper