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KODAK PROFESSIONAL ENDURA Papers involve no
s
uch trade-offs. Both the dye set used and the
emulsions and curve shape drive short-term and
long-term image quality, as well as ease of handling
and processing.
Kodak has supplemented its three-prong design
philosophy with continuous improvement between
major development programs. Ongoing
improvements keep products fresh by adding new
technology as it becomes available. Over the last 20
years, we have made a multitude of improvements
in image quality and lab operations in addition to
image stability.
KODAK PROFESSIONAL ENDURA Papers, however,
are truly revolutionary. Made with advanced dye
technology, they represent a major leap forward in
image stability and print life without sacrificing
image quality, while also enhancing ease of use in
the lab
.
In the professional market, flesh reproduction is the
paramount image-quality criterion. In many color
papers optimized for image stability, image quality
and flesh reproduction suffer. But the three new
dyes in KODAK PROFESSIONAL ENDURA Papers
have been optimized for excellent image stability
without degrading color reproduction or flesh
reproduction. SUPRA ENDURA Paper has additional
patented technologies specifically designed to
optimize flesh reproduction through modifications
t
o the imag
e dy
es combined with precise curve-
shape control in the emulsions.
Testing Methodology and Modern
P
aper C
omponents
Stabilit
y testing of c
olor paper
s focuses on the
major degradation pathways, and includes testing
for light fade, thermal fade (degradation due to
heat, often referred to as “dark fade”), and base
degradation. Although we will not discuss the
specifics of imag
e-stabilit
y testing here, it’s
important to understand the major challenges in
performing the tests correctly and in interpreting
the t
est data.
As the stability of papers improves, the testing
b
ecomes more complex. Predictions of image
stability are based on accelerated testing, and the
accuracy of predictions depends entirely on
generating test data that are low in noise. Figures 1
and 2 show a hypothetical example of two different
p
apers tested for thermal stability. One paper is
more stable than the other, but because of time
l
imitations, both samples were tested for one year.
Figure 1
Four-Point Prediction
—Linear Fit
Linear Fit
Log Days = 13.04666 + 5229.7488 Inverse Kelvin
F
igur
e 1
sho
w
s four data points based on fade
g
enerat
ed from four high-temperature conditions.
The points form a straight line with a high linear
correlation coefficient, and the extrapolated
prediction of room-temperature performance is 100
years. Given the correlation and the statistically
calculated error from this extrapolation, the high
and lo
w limit around the predicted 100 years is plus
or minus 40 y
ears. T
he actual performance may be
as high as 140 years or as low as 60.
2
24°C
years
100
log days
Inverse Kelvin
.0034.0033.0032
.0031
.003.0029.0028.0027
5
4
3
2
1