Digital images show decay in a wide variety of ways. The types of decay are very dependent upon the technology used to create the print itself and also the environmental conditions in the storage area. For example, the color change caused by atmospheric pollution can be a major problem for inkjet prints if stored exposed to the environment but not be a factor for regular photographic prints. It is also not a concern for prints stored in a microenvironment. The salient defects are discussed below.
Fade
A well known defect, which occurs with traditional photographic prints and it is also evident with digital prints. The various digital technologies have different rates and extent of fade. It is manifested by a decrease in the intensity of color.
Color Balance
A defect, which is familiar with traditional photographic images but it also occurs with digital prints. It is frequently more objectionable than fade. It is caused by some colors fading at a different rate than others resulting in a shift in the hue.
Yellowing
An increase in the yellowing of low density areas. It can be caused by yellowing of the image layer itself or by the color change of the paper substrate.
Cracking
A familiar problem with traditional photographic images when they are flexed at low humidities. It is caused by the inherent brittleness of the gelatin–image layer when the moisture content is low. It is also a defect observed with digital images, usually the result of bending over a small diameter.
Delamination
A separation of the image layer from the paper substrate. It occurs when there has not been adequate adhesion between these layers, generally caused by manufacturing problems.
Image Bleeding
The result of lateral movement of the colorants into adjacent areas. It is not observed with traditional photographic prints since different dyes are not in the same layer. However, it is observed in ink-jet prints composed of dyes, which are all in the same layer. These dyes were deposited from an aqueous solution and are very susceptible to water damage or to elevated humidities.
Water Damage
Exposure to water may cause distortion of photographic prints but not materially affect the image itself. However, with ink-jet prints, water exposure can cause catastrophic damage since the images were deposited from aqueous solutions. The water soluble dyes in the same layer flow into each other and destroy the image intergrity.
Pollution Exposure
Atmospheric exposure is not a major problem with traditional photographic prints since the image is protected by the gelatin binder. However, ink-jet prints that are coated on porous paper can be very sensitive to ozone and the oxides of nitrogen since the image is not surrounded by a protective binder and is completely exposed to the environment.
Abrasion Regular
Photographic prints are protected from mild abrasive action by the binder. However, this is not the case with electrophotographic, dye sub, and inkjet prints.
