Technical Brief
DURABrite Ink Technical Brief Page 2
Advantages of DURABrite Inks—Durable Output
With its special formulation of pigment inks, DURABrite Inks offer water-, smudge-, and fade-resistance on all
supported papers, including plain paper. They have greater durability properties than conventional dye-based inks.
1. Water- and Smudge-Resistant Prints: Conventional dye-based inks are comprised of color-forming molecules
that are absorbed into the paper or captured in the coating of RC (Resin Coated) papers, much like a watercolor
paint. DURABrite Inks consist of insoluble pigment particles, much like an oil paint, that “rest” on the paper’s
surface. Although conventional dye-based inks are water-resistant on specic glossy photo papers, they do not
have water-resistance on matte papers. DURABrite Ink is water-resistant on glossy, matte, and even plain papers:
The water- and smudge-resistant properties of DURABrite inks prevent accidental damage caused by moisture
and spills. Many competitive printers use a water-resistant pigment black, but DURABrite Inks are the only ink
system that is pigment-based for black and color printing.
2. Fade-Resistant Prints: DURABrite Inks are fade-
resistant
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, so cherished photos and important
documents will stand up to harsh outdoor sun or
indoor lighting. What’s more, DURABrite Inks have
high fade resistance even on plain paper.
With competitors’ inks, only black is
water-resistant
DURABrite Inks have water-resistant
properties for black and color
With pigment-based DURABrite Ink, even if the outer
surface fades, color remains within the particle
Conventional Dye-Based Ink
Conventional dye-based ink particles
are absorbed into the bers of plain
paper and are soluble in water.
DURABrite Inks
DURABrite Inks pigment particles “rest”
on the surface of plain paper and are
insoluble in water.
Advantages of DURABrite Inks—Wide Media Selection
DURABrite Inks are optimized for plain and matte papers, yet also produce quality results on glossy papers. The
newest formulation of DURABrite Inks produces improved output on glossy papers with the use of black ink in
addition to the three color inks. Epson’s new DURABrite Ink Glossy Photo Paper is specically optimized for use with
DURABrite Inks and delivers long-lasting color prints that are resistant to smudging and fading.
DURABrite Inks are compatible with a variety of papers, including
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:
Matte Surface Papers Glossy Surface Papers Specialty Media
• Plain Paper
• Epson Premium Bright White
Paper
• Epson Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper
• Epson Matte Paper Heavyweight
• Epson Double-Sided Matte Paper
• Epson DURABrite Ink Glossy
Photo Paper
• Epson Glossy Photo Paper
• Epson Premium Semigloss Photo
Paper
Note: The Epson Premium Glossy
Photo Paper is not compatible with
DURABrite Inks
• Epson Photo Quality Ink Jet Cards
• Epson Ink Jet Transparencies