FINEARTS

UL ECOLOGO Certified

Confirms that the inks and printing process meet strict lifecycle environmental standards.

EPEAT Registered

Recognizes the printer’s energy efficiency and environmentally preferable design.

GREENGUARD Gold Certified

Ensures prints meet rigorous chemical emission limits for safe, indoor use.

Éco-Passport Certified

Validates that the inks comply with chemical safety guidelines for safe handling and use in textile applications.

Archival Papers & Ink

To create a true Giclée print-the gold standard for museums and art galleries-paper is only half the battle. The magic happens when archival paper and archival ink join forces.

If you print on the finest German Hahnemühle paper using cheap, standard ink, the print will still fade in a few years. Conversely, if you use the best archival ink on cheap, acidic paper, the paper will turn yellow and eat the image from the inside out.

Here is how archival papers and inks work together to lock in colors for centuries.

The Core Difference: Dye Ink vs. Pigment Ink

In the printing world, inks generally fall into two categories. For archival and fine art printing, only one is acceptable.

Standard Dye-Based Inks (Non-Archival)

Dye-based inks are like water colored with sugar. The colorant dissolves completely in the liquid. While dye inks can produce incredibly bright colors, they are highly sensitive to UV light and air. The molecules break down rapidly, causing the image to fade, shift colors, or bleed if it gets humid.

Pigment-Based Inks (Archival)

Pigment inks are entirely different. Instead of a soluble dye, they consist of microscopic, solid particles of color (like ground-up minerals) suspended in a liquid carrier. When printed, these solid particles bond directly to the top layer of the paper fibers.