I've just added the results of my UV resistance to my Baystate blue review thread. I taped the ink sample to my western window and left it there for about 4-6 weeks.

The two calligraphy inks I loaded up in Pilot varsity pens did not change color. The purple that comes with the varsity changed to red.

I think we can conclude that Baystate blue, while a beautiful ink, is not an archival ink.



Stephen

I'm not surprised because I think Nathan actually mentioned that the ink's weaknesses were bleach and UV. I have to say that I'm pretty impressed it holds up that well. It seems to me I have heard of inks you just wouldn't see after 4-6 weeks in the sun.

I'm sort of new to this forum (a month or so).
But why do we care if an ink holds up to that much sunlight? I understand that it's alot of UV and makes a good test for UV, but would there ever be a situation where something written would need to be resistant to that much UV? If it were a journal or letters, would the ink not be fairly protected for most of their existence?
I'm a photograpger of sorts. I dug out a box of old Polaroids from the 50s that my father had. Polaroids are hardly considered archival, yet they were nearly just as crisp and contrasty as when they were taken. Obviously, this wouldn't be true for anything on display under lights.
Just curious as I'm kind of obsessive about permanence.

I think that over time, UV damage is one of the main contributors to a document aging. Another would be any pH reactions between ink and paper. Every time it's open it receives some UV light, and the damage builds up over time.

Putting a sheet in a window for a couple of months is a form of accelerated life testing, that gives an ideat= of how the ink is going to perform over time.

Stephen

Thank you for putting it to the "UV" test. I was wondering the same thing myself, and you answered it.

Informative test -- thanks. I only wish that the controls included some FP inks, including a Noodler's archival (not necessarily bulletproof) ink.

Thank you very much, Stephen, this is exactely what I wanted to know!! What a shame this ink doesn't last better in the end.
Viseguy, I realise it's not the same, but still I posted a fading test of regular Noodler's blue yesterday. It's here.

Fantastic, thanks. (Interesting that N's Blue "faded" darker!)

I'm not sure what level of UV resistance qualifies as archival. Many products that claim to be archival are only so if stored in the dark.


Most of my books are pretty dark inside so I'm not TOO worried about UV fading. Sure it'd be nice if it wasn't an issue, but I can live with it. I'm loving my BSB that came last night.

I think part of this is paranoia (that is ok by the way) and the other part is being prepared. To be archival, it must withstand a series of test. Most of them are complete exageration of nothing that should happen, but just in case. For example, paper is not supposed to get wet. So waterproof is not that necessary. But Katrina came along, and many many papers that were important now don't have anything written on them.

The other part is forgery. For signing important documents\checks, you way want something that will stand the test of the guy who wants your money. If they can change the amount on the check with a little UV light, then this may be a problem.

Anyway, this is my current understanding.

Oh, I'll add that waterproof (or smearproof) is important for another reason. My wife hates it when the grocery list transfers to her finger... but that is another story!

nick

Back in the 1950s, when animals could still talk and Balboa was a grade school kid, I kept a journal on notebook filler paper and with Skrip Washable Blue ink. The journal was kept in a dark desk drawer all this time. The paper is still white and supple; the ink is almost gone. I have been testing inks in different environments, trying to accelerate the fading process so I can choose inks today that will still be around when I am old and crotchety.

Paddler

How many days away is that?