Epson Stylus Pro 10000, Stylus Pro 5500, Stylus Pro 7500, Stylus Pro 9500, Stylus 2000P Technical Brief

Contents

EPSON Archival™ Inks are used in the professional "P"-series EPSON Stylus Photo printers and in select models
of the professional graphics EPSON Stylus Pro models. This technical brief will provide detailed information
on the following topics:

EPSON Archival Ink Technology

▼

Comparison of different types of ink

▼

EPSON MicroCrystal Encapsulation Technology

EPSON Archival Ink Technology—Comparison of different types of ink

EPSON Archival Ink Technology uses pigment inks, but includes a breakthrough technology that combines the
advantages of conventional pigment inks with the advantages of dye inks. The key differences between the
types of inks are:

Key Differences

Typical use

Lightfastness

Short-Term Stability

Waterfastness

Color Gamut and

Gloss

Durability

Media choices

EPSON Archival Inks

Photography (Fine Art and
Print for Pay) and wide
format ink jet printer market
where archival printing and
Photo Quality output is
required

High lightfastness, over 100
years

Highly stable, with nominal
short-term color shifting

Extremely waterfast

Superb color gamut and
gloss due to even reflection
of inks when using EPSON
RC (Resin Coated) media

Good durability because
pigments are coated with
resin and are fixed on
specialty media

Wide media selection:
matte, watercolor, and RC
photo type papers

Conventional Pigment Inks

Wide format ink jet printer
market for outdoor signage;
NOT optimal for
photography

High lightfastness, over 100
years

Highly stable, with nominal
short-term color shifting

Very waterfast Waterfast on many specialty

Lowest color gamut and
dull (no gloss) prints due to
uneven reflection and high
scattering

Susceptible to scratching
because pigment particles sit
on top of the paper

Limited media selection:
limited to signage media
only

Dye Inks

Standard with desktop ink
jet printers; photography,
presentations, artwork, etc.

Poor to excellent
lightfastness

Good stability, with minimal
short-term color shifting

papers (not plain paper)

Superb color gamut and
gloss due to even reflection
of inks from the paper

Extremely durable, since
inks are absorbed into the
paper

Greatest media selection:
plain, matte, and RC photo
and high gloss paper types

As the chart indicates, the EPSON Archival Inks combine the lightfastness, short-term stability, and waterfastness
advantages of conventional pigment inks with the color gamut, durability, and wide media selection advantages
of dye inks.

1

Lightfastness ratings over 100 years before noticeable fading occurs, under a glass frame in normal indoor fluorescent lighting conditions,
when using Epson Archival Inks and Epson Fine Art Papers. Lightfastness ratings based on accelerated testing of prints on EPSON special
media, displayed indoors, under glass. Actual print stability will vary according to image, display conditions, light intensity, humidity, and
atmospheric conditions. Epson does not guarantee longevity of prints. Ratings do not estimate the durability of the paper itself. For
maximum print life, display all prints under glass or laminations or properly store them.

EPSON Sales Training 11/00

EPSON and EPSON Stylus are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation.

Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Technical Brief—EPSON Archival Inks Page 2

EPSON Archival Ink Technology—EPSON MicroCrystal Encapsulation Technology

EPSON MicroCrystal Encapsulation Technology is a breakthrough technology that overcomes many of the
shortcomings of pigment inks, while maintaining the lightfast, waterfast, and stability advantages.

With this exclusive, patented technology, each pigment crystal is encapsulated in resin:

▲▲

EPSON uses a unique resin polymer which pulls the particles
apart so that they are suspended in the solution and never
coagulate.
Because of this unique mixing method, each pigment
particle is completely encapsulated.

This technology offers the following advantages:

1. Greater color gamut:

Because each pigment particle is completely encapsulated in the resin, EPSON's
pigments are evenly distributed. With conventional pigment inks, the covering/coating of the pigments is
random and less consistent, which results in uneven distribution.

Because EPSON resin-coated pigments are evenly distributed, they produce a higher color gamut that
even rivals that of dye-based inks. For this reason, EPSON inks can print on RC glossy media, while
conventional pigments inks cannot because of their erratic distribution and placement on the paper.

EPSON's MicroCrystal Encapsulation Technology:

▲

Even distribution of particles results in higher
color gamut and higher gloss for a smooth
image appearance

Conventional Pigment Inks:

▲

Pigments either penetrate into the crevices
of the media or lay on the surface (much
like oil paint on a canvas)

▲

Uneven distribution results in lower color
gamut

Appropriate light reflection

Dye based ink, on the other hand, is absorbed into the media, and the even reflection of light results in a
greater color gamut and gloss as the eye perceives the full spectrum of colors (much like a watercolor painting).

Dye-Based Ink:

▲

Color molecules are absorbed into the media
for even reflection

Light



Media (Cross-Section)

EPSON Sales Training 11/00

EPSON and EPSON Stylus are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation.

Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.