Development objectives
''The ultimate photo paper in every regard.'' This was our self-imposed mission when we developed Photo Paper Pro, Canon's previous premium-grade genuine photo paper. To improve on this mission, Canon has produced a new flagship glossy paper: Photo Paper Pro Platinum, Canon's ultimate inkjet printer photo paper that turns prints into art.
We made two major improvements for this paper: separating the functions of the ink-receiving layer into a color-reproduction layer and an absorption layer and adding chromogenic enhancers, which boost light reflectance, to the resin-coated layer. In addition, a bright, neutral white was chosen for the paper's base. And to please the demands of discerning professionals and advanced amateurs, we introduced a new dye-based ink set that, in combination with this paper, improves the reproduction of reds, delivers solid, rich blacks, and offers high image durability and permanence.
Feature 1 :Paper composition and layer characteristics
Original color-reproduction layerThe ink-receiving layer is formed primarily of alumina particles, as was our Photo Paper Pro. The ink-receiving layer has been divided by function into a color-reproduction layer and an absorption layer. This dual-layer structure promotes faster separation of the dye, the ink's color component, from the solvent and fixes the dye closer to the surface of the paper, giving a dramatic improvement in the paper's color reception and rendering performance.
Unpleasant odors have been largely eliminated as well because the paper is acid-free.
Chromogenic enhancersThe chromogenic enhancers embedded in the resin-coated layer reflect more of the light received by the layer. This boosts the contrast between areas that are printed and those that are not, emphasizing the printed areas and producing richer, more brilliant colors.
Resin-coated substrate adds weight and stiffnessPhoto Paper Pro Platinum contains the same resin-coated substrate found in traditional chemical photo papers. The inclusion of this resin-coated substrate gives the photo paper the substantial weight and heft of a premium-grade paper.
Back coating optimized for printer feeding
Feature 2 :Chromogenic enhancers
To achieve the whiteness and coloration suitable for the fine art photos of professionals and advanced amateurs, Canon added newly developed chromogenic enhancers to the paper's resin-coated layer.
Bright, neutral whiteThe chromogenic enhancers Canon added to the resin-coated layer in Photo Paper Pro Platinum enable the layer to reflect incident light more efficiently. This results in a higher reflectance compared to previous papers across almost the entire visible light spectrum. This allowed us to achieve a brighter, more neutral paper white that results in more natural coloration (Figure 1).
High color reproductionThe vividness of printed colors is determined by the degree of contrast between absorbed light at the ink dye's specific wavelength and unabsorbed light at other wavelengths. The greater the contrast, the more brilliant the colors. Canon successfully heightened this contrast in Photo Paper Pro Platinum, giving much better coloration results than past photo papers for sharp, vivid prints.
Feature 3 : Dedication to stunning whites
Creating bright, neutral whitesWe may call paper ''white,'' but in fact there are many ''whites''. These whites are classed as bluish, yellowish, dark, and bright whites. From these many whites, Canon selected a white that is both bright and neutral as the best base for the fine art photos of professionals and advanced amateurs (Figure 2).
Photo Paper Pro Platinum and other photo papers
The white's brightness extends the paper's gamut, so it can render more vivid, saturated colors. At the same time, the white's neutrality ensures this vividness never looks artificial. Coloration is determined completely by the ink dye, so colors look completely natural and unaffected.
Thus, Photo Paper Pro Platinum is able to faithfully recreate the complex blend of gradations in a sunrise, the transparency of glass, and the texture of metal. But nothing looks more stunning or more realistic on Photo Paper Pro Platinum paper than human skin, which is notoriously difficult to depict properly.
Feature 4 :Fast ink absorption
Alumina particles speed up ink absorptionThe alumina particles, which are the primary component of the ink-receiving layer, are shaped like tiny flat plates. This is distinctly different from the spherical shape of the silica particles that are found in most of today's inkjet photo papers. Both alumina and silica use binders, which act as the ''glue'' joining particles together, but the plate-shaped alumina particles require fewer binders. And fewer binders means an alumina-based ink-receiving layer can absorb ink faster than a silica-based layer.
Dual-layer structure for faster dye-solvent separationPhoto Paper Pro Platinum's ink-receiving layer is divided into a top layer and a bottom layer. By using fewer binders in the top layer and more in the bottom layer, we successfully uncoupled the coloration and absorption functions. The advantage of this dual-layer structure is that it accelerates the process of separating the color component of the ink from the solvent component.
This results in more vivid coloration and higher definition prints than is possible with Photo Paper Pro, which has a single ink-receiving layer (Figure 3).
Feature 5 :Deeper, richer blacks
New black ink dye produces deeper black tonalitiesAs with whites, not all photo blacks are the same: blacks can have blue, yellow, red, or green casts. A deep, rich black is one that looks pitch black without a hint of any other color.
Blacks do more than reproduce the absolute black areas of a photograph; they determine the color density, contrast, and vividness of the entire photo. Weak blacks dilute a photo's impact, making it look washed out.
Canon has worked neutralize color tints in its black inks for many years. With Photo Paper Pro Platinum, however, we have achieved deep, rich blacks by taking a new approach of fixing the dye just below the paper's surface.
The closer the dye is fixed to the surface, the more beautiful the photoThe ink-receiving layer at the surface of the paper is where the ink dye is trapped and the colors rendered. If this layer is too thick, it becomes difficult to produce sufficient color density because the dye will diffuse too deeply into the material. But if we simply make the layer thinner, the water solvent contained in the ink will wash across the paper's surface.
Faster dye-solvent separation allows for shallower dye-fixingWe solved this problem for Photo Paper Pro Platinum with a special inkjet coating technique, which is a photosensitive material technology application.
This allowed us to separate the ink-receiving layer into a color-reproduction layer, which fixes the dye, and an absorption layer, which holds the excess water solvent. Thus, because the dye can be fixed closer to the paper's surface, Photo Paper Pro Platinum can achieve sharper photos with richer, deeper blacks than Photo Paper Pro. In addition, greater image clarity is possible because the absorption layer traps the water solvent quickly (Figure 4).
Photo Paper Pro Platinum and Photo Paper Pro
Feature 6 : Impressive, vivid coloration
Wider red spectrum reproductionThe wider the gamut, the more colors that can be reproduced. By twining Photo Paper Pro Platinum with our new BCI-321 ink set, we dramatically extended color reproduction in the red spectrum (the region from yellow through red to magenta). With this combination, professionals and advanced amateurs will have access to richer and more vibrant color reproduction that takes advantage of all the PIXUS's photo rendering capabilities (Figure 5).
Photo Paper Pro Platinum and Photo Paper Pro
Feature 7 :Brilliant finish right out of the printer
More color saturation right out of the printer and faster color stabilizationWith ordinary inkjet papers, the color develops gradually over time, during which you can't judge what the final photo's color and contrast will be. This wait time seems even longer when you are making proof prints while adjusting a photo.
The ink density (color density) is higher immediately after printing on Photo Paper Pro Platinum and colors stabilize sooner, so that the photo reaches its final color in much less time. It is also possible to get highly saturated colors immediately after printing (Figure 6).
Photo Paper Pro Platinum and Photo Paper Pro
Feature 8 : Longer print permanence
Looking at both the ink and the paper, Canon has worked on what can be done with the ink, what can be done with the paper, and what can be done with both together to make prints last longer.
Assuming the presence of several potential discoloration mechanisms, Canon developed a new durability enhancer for Photo Paper Pro Platinum that when added to the ink-receiving layer minimizes the discoloration of colorants.
Assumed chemical discoloration mechanismsThe assumed chemical discoloration mechanisms are caused by either light or gases. Canon considered the following three deterioration mechanisms when designing the paper for longevity.
| · | Reactions that degrade colorants in the paper caused by external gases that permeate the paper |
| · | Materials generated in the first degradation process that start a further colorant-degrading chain reaction |
| · | Chain reactions that degrade colorants caused by the action of light passing through oxygen |
Steps to ensure longer print life with Photo Paper Pro PlatinumCanon discovered a new additive that minimizes the discoloration of colorants in the paper from mechanisms that discolor prints and successfully introduced this in Photo Paper Pro Platinum.
This concludes this month's look at Canon's preeminent photo paper, Photo Paper Pro Platinum. The following table lists the many sizes available.
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