The image life of printed ink jet media in dark keeping conditions in typical office environments is pertinent to the end use of these materials. While natural aging is the most reliable method of assessing image stability, the length of time required makes this method impractical for most materials. As a result, accelerated tests often are used. This test practice is an accelerated short-term storage test that simulates long-term storage but at elevated temperatures. A room condition sample is also tracked to provide practical data. By measuring the time needed to obtain a predetermined color change at a variety of temperature conditions, the image life can be predicted using the Arrhenius method.

Note 2-The Arrhenius method is a predictive test based on mathematical extrapolation of high temperature tests to room temperature. In this test, long-term color changes are predicted by performing short-term tests at a series of high temperatures.

Since the ability of an ink jet print to withstand color changes is a function of temperature and humidity, it is important that dark stability 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 test practice is intended to produce the color changes that may occur in ink jet prints upon dark keeping in typical office environments.

The accelerated procedure described in this test practice is intended to provide a means for predicting the life of an ink jet image under laboratory conditions. Test results are useful for specification acceptance between producer and user, for quality control, and for research and product development.