Kodak Ultima Photo Paper 1925510 User Manual

 
Title 
 
The Technology Behind the New Kodak Ultima Picture Paper – Beautiful Inkjet Prints 
that Last for Over 100 Years 
 
Authors 
 
D. E. Bugner, C. Romano, G. A. Campbell, M. M. Oakland, R. Kapusniak, L. Aquino,  
and K. Maskasky 
 
Abstract 
 
The long-term stability of inkjet photographic prints is known to be sensitive to a variety 
of factors.  The chemical composition of the inks (pigments vs dyes) and media (porous 
vs swellable), as well as the ambient environmental conditions (light, heat, humidity, air 
quality) under which the prints are stored and/or displayed, are known to affect image 
stability.  The new KODAK Ultima Picture Paper with COLORLAST technology not 
only produces great looking photographs with all popular desktop inkjet printers, but now 
also offers outstanding image stability under typical home display and storage conditions.  
When printed with current state-of-the-art desktop inks, prints made on KODAK Ultima 
Picture Paper are projected to last in excess of 100 years, even when displayed without 
additional protection, such as behind glass.  In this paper, we will highlight the 
technological advances responsible for delivering both universal compatibility and best-
in-class image stability.      
 
Introduction 
 
When purchasing high quality, glossy inkjet paper for printing photographic images, 
consumers face two choices: swellable polymer-based coatings or porous particle-based 
coatings. This decision comes with inherent trade-offs. Although porous coatings dry 
quickly after printing, and their moisture and humidity resistance is generally good, 
resistance to environmental pollutants such as ozone is quite poor.

1

  Swellable coatings 

offer improved lightfastness and stability to pollutants, but tend to be sensitive to high 
humidity from both a dry time and image stability perspective.

2

   Clearly, it is desirable to 

have a photo-quality inkjet paper that can stand up to all of these environmental factors, 
even under the most demanding consumer application:  unprotected display, such as on 
the refrigerator, on the bulletin board, or in an open frame.

3

   With the introduction of the 

new KODAK Ultima Picture Paper, these trade-offs have been addressed head-on. For 
the first time, customers are now able to purchase a universally compatible photographic 
inkjet paper that resists all known environmental factors: light, heat, humidity, and air 
pollution.  In this paper we will describe the breakthrough technologies that have enabled 
these features.  
 
 

 

 

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