Significance and Use

Lightfastness of printed ink jet media for specified periods of time is pertinent to the end use of these materials. Since the ability of an ink jet print to withstand color changes is a function of the spectral power distribution of the light source to which it is exposed, it is important that the effect of accelerated testing be assessed under the conditions appropriate to the end use application. While ink jet prints may be handled and displayed under a variety of conditions, this practice is intended to produce the color changes that may occur in ink jet prints upon exposure to irradiation from office lighting where overhead fluorescent light and window-filtered daylight is used for illumination by simulating these conditions.

The accelerated procedure covered in this practice is intended to provide a means for the rapid evaluation of the effect of light under laboratory conditions. Test results are useful for specification acceptance between producer and user, for quality control, and for research and product development.

Color changes may not be a linear function of duration of exposure. The preferred method of determining the effect of light is to expose the prints for a number of intervals and to assess the exposure time required to obtain a specific color change.

1. Scope

1.1 This practice covers an accelerated procedure intended to screen ink jet prints for lightfastness in office environments where overhead fluorescent light and window-filtered daylight is used for illumination.

1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 8.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ANSI Standard

ASTM Standards

D1729 Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials

D2244 Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates

D3424 Practice for Evaluating the Relative Lightfastness and Weatherability of Printed Matter

D4674 Practice for Accelerated Testing for Color Stability of Plastics Exposed to Indoor Office Environments

G113 Terminology Relating to Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests of Nonmetallic Materials

Keywords

accelerated testing ; color change ; image stability ; ink jet ; ink jet prints ; lightfastness ; UV exposure ; window-filtered daylight; Accelerated aging/testing--copy materials; Daylight; Fluorescent lamps/lighting; Lightfastness; Overhead fluorescent lighting; Window-filtered daylight ;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 87.080 (Inks. Printing inks)

DOI: 10.1520/F1946_F1946M-10

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.

ASTM F1946 / F1946M