Image Permanence Institute October 24, 2010 The Stability of Print-on-Demand Books Douglas W. Nishimura

Print-on- Demand No warehousing costs for booksNo warehousing costs for books Press runs better match demandPress runs better match demand –Inexpensive for small press runs Corrections and updates easyCorrections and updates easy Popular for photo booksPopular for photo books

Technology Once Off-set Lithography only game in town.Once Off-set Lithography only game in town.

Digital Press Technology CurrentCurrent –Electrophotography Kodak Nexpress: solid tonerKodak Nexpress: solid toner Xerox iGen: solid tonerXerox iGen: solid toner HP Indigo: liquid toneHP Indigo: liquid tone NewNew –Ink-Jet Late Kodak Stream: Pigment inkLate Kodak Stream: Pigment ink Spring 2009 – HP T300 Ink-jet web pressSpring 2009 – HP T300 Ink-jet web press

Electrophotography

Ink Jet

History in Photographic Field

Lawsuits At least two major class-action suits against photographic manufacturersAt least two major class-action suits against photographic manufacturers Claims that advertising implied high stability that didn’t existClaims that advertising implied high stability that didn’t exist Manufactures knew how to produce higher stability products, but knowingly sold products with poor stability.Manufactures knew how to produce higher stability products, but knowingly sold products with poor stability.

Slow Fires Rapid disintegration of acid-processed paper particularly in books.Rapid disintegration of acid-processed paper particularly in books. Could have spilled into printing industryCould have spilled into printing industry

Survey 2008 survey of libraries, museums, archives2008 survey of libraries, museums, archives –95% confidence –Maximum error of  –87.4% have digital print collections –81.1% of those have observed at least one form of deterioration. –Print-on-demand books are the progeny of these materials.

Two types of accelerated tests PredictivePredictive ComparativeComparative

Predictive DifficultDifficult Time and resource consumingTime and resource consuming How does it relate to “real life”?How does it relate to “real life”?

Comparative Testing EasierEasier Single condition and timeSingle condition and time Interpretation?Interpretation?

Accelerated Testing Based on assumptions about “real life” for the book.Based on assumptions about “real life” for the book.

Acceleration HeatHeat HumidityHumidity High intensity or concentrationHigh intensity or concentration

Endpoint Very subjectiveVery subjective –Psychophysical testing often needed Last acceptable point?Last acceptable point? First unacceptable point?First unacceptable point?

Digital Press EP 400 cycles, 4 psi

Offset Lithography Unexposed

Assumed 450 lux for 12 hours per day Unfiltered cool white fluorescent light for 52 simulated years

Digital Press 52 Simulated Years

Yellowed page in digitally printed book

Ink Jet More complexMore complex –Stability a function of interaction between ink and paper. Affected by Ink strength and color combinations.Affected by Ink strength and color combinations.

Water Disaster Traditional color print exposed to water for 24 hours.Traditional color print exposed to water for 24 hours.

Water disaster Digital press image after 24 hours in water.Digital press image after 24 hours in water.

Abrasion Pigment ink-jet tends to abrade easily.Pigment ink-jet tends to abrade easily.

Conclusions Virtually no work so far on the stability of print-on-demand books.Virtually no work so far on the stability of print-on-demand books. Long and difficult road ahead.Long and difficult road ahead. Given available choices in printing technology, stability could be critical in the future.Given available choices in printing technology, stability could be critical in the future. Printing industry should be aware of issues.Printing industry should be aware of issues.

Digital Print Portal Project Supported by the IMLS and the Andrew W. Mellon FoundationSupported by the IMLS and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation