Čeština
Français
Deutsch
English GB
Dansk
ελληνικά
Türkçe
Svenska
Română
"Archival" Has Been Designed to Stand the Test of Time
The term is used to describe materials and objects that will retain their features for at least 100 years under certain circumstances.
Most inks will fade within years or decades even if they're kept away from light, heat, and moisture, but lab testing estimates that our inks will last over 200 years in opportune conditions. The papers are also estimated to last over 100 years.
We only use authentic Epson ink and archival-quality papers from milling companies such as Awagami Factory.
Are These Prints Guaranteed to Last 100 Years?
The longevity estimate is based on information provided by Epson and the mills we receive our papers from, in combination with proper storage. When stored and handled properly, the paper and inks should last at least 100 years without fading or aging.
If you oftentimes handle the prints with your bare hands or place them in areas where they receive direct sunlight, then they are much less likely to last 100 years. The expertise used to create the papers and inks will make these prints last for years or decades longer than others when under the same circumstances.
How Should I Handle and Care For My Prints?
The best way to maximize longevity, so you can pass these down to your grandchildren's children, is to keep these stored in a cool (~60°F/~15.5°C), dry environment away from the sunlight.
If you want to display your prints, we suggest using frames with UV protecting plastic or glass, and with backing that's acid free. The prints should be placed in spots that don't receive direct sunlight, as this will exacerbate fading.
If your intent is not to pass these down to your ancestors, you don't need to worry too much, as you can still place these in frames around your home and the colors will still last decades, even with the temperature fluctuating and receiving indirect sunlight. The quality of the papers and inks help keep colors and reduce or prevent age stains for many years longer than other materials.
When placed in direct sunlight and without protective UV plastic or glass, though, certain colors may fade after a number of years. The care you provide the prints directly correlates with how long they will last.
In our office, we always wear cotton gloves in order to prevent any damage due to oils naturally present on hands. Using gloves when handling these will help prevent the papers from aging more quickly.
Can I frame these and put them up on a wall?
You can do whatever you want with them. You don't even need a frame if you don't want one - which is why we offer very large prints.
Our emphasis on the quality of prints is mainly to convey to you the quality of these prints and how sturdy these are compared to simply printing them on your own inkjet printer or buying prints from a company that doesn't focus on longevity.
The vast majority of on-demand and offset printing services produce prints that are only designed to last a few years without fading, even in opportune conditions. Even ukiyo-e prints made using traditional woodblock methods lose their colors and experience paper aging decades earlier than the quality we offer.
How do you protect the prints?
We only handle prints while wearing cotton gloves in order to prevent oils or other chemicals from damaging the papers. Prints are given time to dry before being sent out to customers, preventing bleeding or rubbing. We also use archival-quality sheets of paper in between each print to protect each print as its sent to you.
Our prints are sent in cardboard boxes or sturdy paperboard tubes, as simply sending in flat envelopes can end up with bent corners or even being folded in half. Prints will usually be wrapped in tubes to decrease shipping costs and overall cardboard use. We also place the prints in plastic zipper bags, which help keep out moisture and prevent damage from spills.
If you order a large set, such as the 53 Stations of the Tokaido, the prints will come in an archival-quality cardboard box. These boxes have been specially designed for archival use and will help keep the prints safe over the decades.
This is a reproduction print of Fukuroi Station (袋井宿), the 26th station along the Tokaido, made by Hiroshige Utagawa in 1833-1834. It appears in Hiroshige's Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido (東海道五十三次) collection.
Your location is used to determine taxes, which are included in the price when applicable. The amount of tax may change after inputting your address.
This is a reproduction print of Minakuchi Station (水口宿), the 50th station along the Tokaido, made by Hiroshige Utagawa in 1833-1834. It appears in Hiroshige's Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido (東海道五十三次) collection.
Your location is used to determine taxes, which are included in the price when applicable. The amount of tax may change after inputting your address.
This is a reproduction print of Odawara Station (小田原宿), the 9th station along the Tokaido, made by Hiroshige Utagawa in 1833-1834. It appears in Hiroshige's Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido (東海道五十三次) collection.
Your location is used to determine taxes, which are included in the price when applicable. The amount of tax may change after inputting your address.
This is a reproduction print of Okabe Station (岡部宿), the 21st station along the Tokaido, made by Hiroshige Utagawa in 1833-1834. It appears in Hiroshige's Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido (東海道五十三次) collection.
Your location is used to determine taxes, which are included in the price when applicable. The amount of tax may change after inputting your address.
This is a reproduction print of Maisaka Station (舞阪宿), the 30th station along the Tokaido, made by Hiroshige Utagawa in 1833-1834. It appears in Hiroshige's Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido (東海道五十三次) collection.
Your location is used to determine taxes, which are included in the price when applicable. The amount of tax may change after inputting your address.
This collection includes a total of 55 reproduction prints, printed using a top-of-the-line inkjet printer with archival-quality ink on aiban-sized (13.4" x 9", 34cm x 23cm) Awagami Kozo Thick White washi. If handled and stored correctly, these prints can last for 100 or more years without fading or aging.
This is an archival-quality giclee reproduction print of The Treasury of Loyal Retainers (忠臣蔵): Act VIII by Utamaro Kitagawa (喜多川歌麿), originally printed in the late 1790s.
Your location is used to determine taxes, which are included in the price when applicable. The amount of tax may change after inputting your address.
This is a reproduction print of Yoshiwara Station (吉原宿), the 14th station along the Tokaido, made by Hiroshige Utagawa in 1833-1834. It appears in Hiroshige's Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido (東海道五十三次) collection.
Your location is used to determine taxes, which are included in the price when applicable. The amount of tax may change after inputting your address.