No Footlocker Required

Recently, while moving into a new studio space, I came across an old photo album stuffed with scraps, pictures, and photocopies from my past. Each time I've moved over the years I've rediscovered this trove of mementos—evidence of past accomplishments and milestones—all contained in that worn, overstuffed book I keep tucked away in a footlocker.

One of the things I seem to forget about is this old poster from a play that I performed in when I was thirteen or fourteen years old. The old poster (which surprises and fills me with joy each time I rediscover it) was made from a drawing I did while passing time during rehearsals for the play. My fellow cast members and the play's director were so taken with the drawing that they decided it would be used as the official poster. It was the first time a drawing of mine was displayed publicly. I felt so proud then and I can still feel it now — even though today the poster is just a faded photocopy, flattened under years of other memories.

Looking back, I chuckle that simple photocopies were the best print option at the time. Photocopies were never meant to last, so I'm glad I kept the poster hidden away in the dark of a footlocker. Otherwise, had it been exposed to direct light all these years, surely it would have faded away completely. But why? Why do prints fade? Suppose I had wanted to display my poster proudly in my studio or my home continually down through the years. How could I have made sure the artwork would endure?

The answer lies in two things: the paper and the ink. Let’s focus on ink.

Why Prints Fade

Dye-based ink in inkjet photo printer.

When it comes to lightfastness and durability, the ink is everything. Once upon a time there was only one kind available: dye-based. Dye-based inks are fast, bright, and vibrant — but also fragile and easily smeared. They can bleed, and worst of all, they fade quickly. Nonetheless, dye-based inks remain the most common type of printer ink in use even though they aren’t considered to be archival.

What does 'archival' mean?

An ink described as 'archival' means that it has been formulated to meet professional standards of permanence and stability. Pigment-based inks, for instance, can produce prints that resist fading and discoloration for decades under normal display conditions.

Pigment-Based Inks?

Pigment Ink in professional production printer.

Yes. Although more expensive, they are far more archival. A print made with pigment inks can retain its original vibrancy for 100 years or more. This longevity, however, depends heavily on the paper it's printed on and how it's displayed afterwards. (A print kept in a footlocker, for example, will age much better than one continually exposed to direct sunlight.)

Pigment-based inks are so durable because each color is made up of a neutral base with tiny colored particles inside. These particles are not organic so they are resistant to environmental forces such as moisture and sunlight. On the other hand, they can be slightly less vibrant than dye-based ink. They also take longer to dry. Isn't there something more solid? Absolutely.

Solid Inks

Oil-based and wax-like, solid inks come in blocks that are melted and applied to paper. They do not absorb into the printing surface but, rather, they remain on the surface. The result is little or no fading or deterioration over time, and colors that are often more vivid. Solid inks are also more environmentally friendly because unlike other kinds of ink, they do not come in plastic cartridges that need to be thrown away.

Sounds like the perfect solution, right? Not so fast. Solid inks are not as widely available as other inks. Very few manufacturers market them, and they tend to be rather expensive. Therefore, solid inks are usually reserved for highly specialized projects.

Solvent Inks and Beyond

Finally, we have solvent inks, which contain color pigments suspended in organic chemical compounds. When treated with heat, they become waterproof, a property that makes them ideal for producing durable outdoor billboards, decals, and public artwork exposed to the elements. Of course, the printing world extends even further into specialized applications, with inks like UV-curable, acrylic polymers, and dye-sublimation inks.

From Theatre Posters to Fine Art Prints

Artist proofs of my limited edition print “Easter Mosaic”, laid out on my drafting table for inspection — part of my quality control process before the final print run.

But I've done countless plays since I was fourteen. There have been many posters made from my drawings and artwork for plays, films, videotape boxes, and print presentations of various kinds. All these involved various processes and different combinations of inks and papers. As a result, I have found the best mix of materials and inks for my limited edition prints. Of course, I love my grade-school theatre poster but I don't want collectors of my prints to have to stash them away in a footlocker for years on end, only taking them out periodically for short bursts of enjoyment before they are banished from view for another decade or more.

Detail of limited edition print “Easter Mosaic” by Monti Sharp. Features vibrant pigment inks on archival museum quality paper.

No, my intent is to make things that my collectors can proudly display in any setting they choose, and be confident that the colors will remain as vibrant and rich in 100 years as they are today. That's why I use only the best archival inks and museum-quality papers available. There is a great deal of experience and thought behind every print that goes out to my buyers. I have lost sleep and devoted countless hours to perfecting my process. This means you can be confident in your purchase without a second thought.

My limited edition prints are rich, beautiful, archival, and lightfast for generations. Check them out and purchase one for yourself.

No footlocker required.