Lyra: Are Aftermarket Inks Fading Fast?

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Lyra Research has announced findings from Wilhelm Imaging Research (WIR) showing that the image permanence of photos printed with aftermarket ink jet cartridges and photo papers is far inferior to that of photos printed with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) ink jet cartridges and photo papers. The results of this study were published in the May issue of The Hard Copy Supplies Journal, now available for free download here. The testing examined the image permanence of prints made with store-brand ink jet cartridges, ink jet cartridges refilled at franchise refill shops, and other aftermarket ink sets, using OEM and third-party photo papers. It also compared the permanence of photos printed with these aftermarket products to that of photos printed with inks and photo papers from Canon, Epson, and HP using the respective OEMs' consumer photo printers.

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Charles Brewer, managing editor of The Hard Copy Supplies Journal, explains the framework of the study. "Wilhelm Imaging Research based the study on claims it found in the advertising for many aftermarket ink jet cartridges and papers indicating that aftermarket products generally provide equal or better quality than products made by OEMs such as HP, Canon, Epson, and Lexmark. According to WIR, image permanence is an intrinsic component of ''overall product quality,'' and its testing reveals that aftermarket photo inks and media fall far short of these claims, with a gap of more than 70 years in permanence ratings in some cases." Brewer adds, "While store-brand ink jet cartridges, refilled cartridges, and Internet-purchased cartridges have achieved remarkable levels of image quality, the test results indicate that in terms of the less obvious issue of light-fading stability, these products are comparable to where the OEMs were in the 1990s. It appears that the aftermarket's one-size-fits-all approach to making ink and compatible photo papers doesn't produce the same level of image permanence, especially when compared to the optimized combinations available from the major printer manufacturers. The WIR test results suggest that photos printed with a combination of aftermarket ink jet cartridges and premium OEM photo papers essentially negated the value of using the name-brand paper."

Since no information regarding the longevity of photo prints is available at the point of sale, consumers have no guidelines for choosing printing supplies that will yield long-lasting photo prints. Ink jet photo paper analyst Andy Lippman explores the market implications of the WIR study. "Can printer manufacturers effectively communicate the value proposition of image permanence to consumers who are primarily concerned with price? As the aftermarket continues to gain market share using a value-driven message, particularly with the strength of office superstore-brand products, companies such as HP have begun to employ more pointed language about the lower quality of aftermarket products. With these test results in hand, the OEMs have an even better tool to battle aftermarketers. Even the thriftiest consumer may have second thoughts about buying a cartridge that produces photos that will fade in only a matter of months. From an advertising standpoint, the image of a faded family photograph gives the OEMs an emotionally and rationally compelling message based on the WIR results."

Wilhelm Imaging Research (WIR), led by founder and president Henry Wilhelm, conducted the testing. Wilhelm is an expert on image permanence and has worked on various issues related to the display and preservation of photographic prints with a number of groups, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Since 1995, he has been an advisor to the Corbis Bettmann photography collection, which is owned by Bill Gates and contains more than 65 million images. For more details on WIR's methodology, visit www.wilhelm-research.com.

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