International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
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ISO 18916:2007
Scope
This International Standard specifies the procedure for the photographic activity and dye coupler reactivity
tests.
This International Standard is applicable to general photographic enclosure materials such as paper, tissue,
cardboard, mat board and plastics. It is also applicable to components of photographic enclosure materials such
as adhesives, inks, paints, labels, and tape.
This International Standard evaluates possible chemical interactions between enclosures with processed
silver-gelatin, colour (dye-gelatin), inkjet prints made with dye-based and pigment-based inks, thermal dye
diffusion transfer (“dye sub”) prints, digitally printed dye-diffusion-transfer prints, liquid- and dry-toner
xerographic prints, liquid-toner electrostatic prints, and diazo images after long-term storage. It does not
pertain to harmful physical interactions such as blocking (sticking together), dye bleed, adhesive migration, or
plasticizer exudation. It does not pertain to important criteria of enclosures such as their inherent chemical
stability, physical integrity, and workmanship. Passing the photographic activity test (PAT) does not indicate
that a material is archival. This term has no clear definition and is not used in this standard. Photo-safe,
storage enclosures and their components are covered in ISO 18902, which includes passing the criteria of the
photographic activity test.
If a particular brand of commercially made enclosure materials is found to be safe for long-term storage
purposes, there is no assurance that subsequent batches will contain the same ingredients of the same purity,
chemical inertness, concentrations, or sound and sturdy construction. For this reason, materials are tested
annually or upon each formulation or supplier change. For materials which are manufactured in a variety of
colours, such as papers and inks, each colour is evaluated and reported separately.
For enclosures intended for use with any of the above imaging processes, only the black-and-white PAT
described in Clauses 4 to 7 are applicable. The dye coupler reactivity test is optional as the results are valid
only for the specific colour print product being investigated. Different colour print products can have different
staining sensitivities.
For enclosures intended for use with diazo images, only the diazo PAT described in 8.5 is applicable.
ISO 18916:2007 Referenced Document
ISO 5-2:2001 Photography - Density measurements - Part 2: Geometric conditions for transmission density
ISO 5-3:1995 Photography - Density measurements - Part 3: Spectral conditions
ISO 5-4:1995 Photography - Density measurements - Part 4: Geometric conditions for reflection density
ISO 18916:2007 history
2007ISO 18916:2007 Imaging materials - Processed imaging materials - Photographic activity test for enclosure materials