ASTM F1945-05(2011)
Standard Practice for Determining the Lightfastness of Ink Jet Prints Exposed to Indoor Fluorescent Lighting

Standard No.

ASTM F1945-05(2011)

Release Date

2005

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Latest

ASTM F1945-05(2011)

Replace By

LST EN 13379-2001+A1-2013

Scope

5. Significance and UseTop Bottom

5.1 Lightfastness of printed ink jet media for specified periods of time is pertinent to the end use of these materials. Since the ability of ink jet prints to withstand color changes is a function of the spectral power distribution of the light source to which it is exposed, it is important that lightfastness 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 practice is intended to produce the color changes that may occur in ink jet prints upon exposure to irradiation from office lighting where overhead fluorescent light is used for illumination by simulating these conditions.

5.2 The accelerated procedures covered in this practice are intended to provide a means for the rapid evaluation of the relative lightfastness of a series of prints or of a print of interest in comparison to the performance of controls with known lightfastness exposed simultaneously under laboratory conditions. Test results are useful for specification acceptance between producer and user, for quality control, and for research and product development.

Note 1???Refer to Practice G151 for full cautionary guidance applicable to all laboratory weathering devices. Additional information on sources of variability and on strategies for addressing variability by design and data analysis of laboratory accelerated exposure tests is found in Guide G141.

5.3 Variation in results may be expected when operating conditions are varied within the accepted limits of this practice. For example, differences in the level of irradiance using lamps with the same spectral power distribution can cause significant differences in test results. Therefore, no reference to the use of this practice should be made unless accompanied by a report prepared in accordance with Section 12 which specifies whether Test Method D4674 Method II or Method III was used and which describes the specific operating conditions used.

Note 2???A comparison of the two listed methods has not been performed. Therefore, the two methods cannot be considered to give equivalent test results unless tests have been carried out to show that the two methods provide the same stability rankings, i.e., the same relative stabilities for different ink jet prints. Also, exposure times for equivalent changes in color and optical densities by the two methods has not been determined.

5.4 Reproducibility of test results between laboratories using the same method (e.g., Method II or Method III of Test Method