ISO 18909:2022

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 18909
Second edition
2022-02
Photography — Processed
photographic colour films and paper
prints — Methods for measuring
image stability
Photographie — Films et papiers photographiques couleur traités —
Méthodes de mesure de la stabilité de l'image
Reference number
ISO 18909:2022(E)
© ISO 2022

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
ISO 18909:2022(E)
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2022
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
  © ISO 2022 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
ISO 18909:2022(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction . vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Test methods — General . 2
4.1 Sensitometric exposure . 2
4.2 Processing . 2
4.3 Densitometry . 3
4.4 Definition of density terms . . 3
4.5 Density values to be measured . 3
4.6 Method of correction of density measurements for d changes . 4
min
4.6.1 General . 4
4.6.2 Transmission density corrected for d . 7
min
4.6.3 Reflection density corrected for d . 7
min
4.6.4 Colour balance in a neutral density patch . 7
4.6.5 d changes . 7
min
4.6.6 d colour balance . 7
min
4.7 Computation of image-life parameters . 8
4.8 Effects of dye fading and stain formation on the printing quality of colour negative
images. 8
5 Test methods — Dark stability .9
5.1 Introduction . 9
5.2 Test conditions . 9
5.3 Number of specimens . 10
5.4 Test equipment and operation for specimens free-hanging in air . 11
5.5 Test equipment and operation for specimens sealed in moisture-proof bags . 11
5.6 Conditioning and packaging of specimens in moisture-proof bags . 11
5.7 Incubation conditions for specimens sealed in moisture-proof bags . 11
5.8 Computation of dark stability . 11
6 Test methods — Light stability .12
6.1 Introduction . 12
6.2 Number of specimens . 12
6.3 Irradiance measurements and normalization of test results .12
6.4 Backing of test specimens during irradiation testing . 13
6.5 Specification for standard window glass . 13
6.6 High-intensity filtered xenon arc ID65 illuminant (50 klx to 100 klx) for simulated
indoor indirect daylight through window glass . 13
6.7 Glass-filtered fluorescent room illumination — Cool White fluorescent lamps
(80 klx or lower) . 16
6.8 Incandescent tungsten room illumination 3,0 klx – CIE illuminant A spectral
distribution . 19
6.9 Simulated outdoor sunlight (xenon arc) 100 klx – CIE D65 spectral distribution . 19
6.10 Intermittent tungsten-halogen lamp slide projection 1 000 klx . 21
6.11 Computation of light stability .22
7 Test report .22
7.1 Introduction . 22
7.2 Dark stability tests . . 25
7.3 Light stability tests . 25
Annex A (informative) A method of interpolation for step wedge exposures .27
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ISO 18909:2022(E)
Annex B (informative) Method for power formula d correction of reflection print
min
materials .28
Annex C (informative) Illustration of Arrhenius calculation for dark stability .33
Annex D (informative) The importance of the starting density in the assessment of dye
fading and colour balance changes in light-stability tests .37
Annex E (informative) Enclosure effects in light-stability tests with prints framed under
glass or plastic sheets .39
Annex F (informative) Data treatment for the stability of light-exposed colour images .41
Bibliography .49
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ISO 18909:2022(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 42, Photography.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 18909:2006), of which it constitutes a
minor revision. The changes are as follows:
— a corrigendum published in 2006 has been incorporated, and
— updates have been made to align and compliment test methods for digital print materials.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
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---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
ISO 18909:2022(E)
Introduction
This document is divided into two parts. The first covers the methods and procedures for predicting
the long-term, dark storage stability of colour photographic images; the second covers the methods
and procedures for measuring the colour stability of such images when exposed to light of specified
intensities and spectral distribution, at specified temperatures and relative humidities.
Today, the majority of continuous-tone photographs are made with colour photographic materials. The
length of time that such photographs are to be kept can vary from a few days to many hundreds of
years and the importance of image stability can be correspondingly small or great. Often the ultimate
use of a particular photograph may not be known at the outset. Knowledge of the useful life of colour
photographs is important to many users, especially since stability requirements often vary depending
upon the application. For museums, archives, and others responsible for the care of colour photographic
materials, an understanding of the behaviour of these materials under various storage and display
conditions is essential if they are to be preserved in good condition for long periods of time.
Organic cyan, magenta and yellow dyes that are dispersed in transparent binder layers coated on to
transparent or white opaque supports form the images of most modern colour photographs. Colour
photographic dye images typically fade during storage and display; they will usually also change in
colour balance because the three image dyes seldom fade at the same rate. In addition, a yellowish (or
occasionally other colour) stain may form and physical degradation may occur, such as embrittlement
and cracking of the support and image layers. The rate of fading and staining can vary appreciably
and is governed principally by the intrinsic stability of the colour photographic material and by the
conditions under which the photograph is stored and displayed. The quality of chemical processing is
another important factor. Post-processing treatments, such as application of lacquers, plastic laminates
and retouching colours, may also affect the stability of colour materials.
The two main factors that influence storage behaviour, or dark stability, are the temperature and relative
humidity of the air that has access to the photograph. High temperature, particularly in combination
with high relative humidity, will accelerate the chemical reactions that can lead to degradation of one or
more of the image dyes. Low-temperature, low-humidity storage, on the other hand, can greatly prolong
the life of photographic colour images. Other potential causes of image degradation are atmospheric
pollutants (such as oxidizing and reducing gases), micro-organisms and insects.
Primarily the intensity of the illumination, the duration of exposure to light, the spectral distribution
of the illumination, and the ambient environmental conditions influence the stability of colour
photographs when displayed indoors or outdoors. (However, the normally slower dark fading and
staining reactions also proceed during display periods and will contribute to the total change in image
quality). Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is particularly harmful to some types of colour photographs and
can cause rapid fading as well as degradation of plastic layers such as the pigmented polyethylene layer
of resin-coated (RC) paper supports.
In practice, colour photographs are stored and displayed under varying combinations of temperature,
relative humidity and illumination, and for different lengths of time. For this reason, it is not possible to
precisely predict the useful life of a given type of photographic material unless the specific conditions
of storage and display are known in advance. Furthermore, the amount of change that is acceptable
differs greatly from viewer to viewer and is influenced by the type of scene and the tonal and colour
qualities of the image.
After extensive examination of amateur and professional colour photographs that have suffered varying
degrees of fading or staining, no consensus has been achieved on how much change is acceptable for
various image quality criteria. For this reason, this document does not specify acceptable end-points
for fading and changes in colour balance. Generally, however, the acceptable limits are twice as wide for
changes in overall image density as for changes in colour balance. For this reason, different criteria have
been used as examples in this document for predicting changes in image density and colour balance.
Pictorial tests can be helpful in assessing the visual changes that occur in light and dark stability tests,
but are not included in this document because no single scene is representative of the wide variety of
scenes actually encountered in photography.
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ISO 18909:2022(E)
In dark storage at normal room temperatures, most modern colour films and papers have images that
fade and stain too slowly to allow evaluation of the dark storage stability simply by measuring changes
in the specimens over time. In such cases, too many years would be required to obtain meaningful
stability data. It is possible, however, to assess in a relatively short time the probable long-term fading
and staining behaviour at moderate or low temperatures by means of accelerated ageing tests carried
out at high temperatures. The influence of relative humidity also can be evaluated by conducting the
high-temperature tests at two or more humidity levels.
Similarly, information about the light stability of colour photographs can be obtained from accelerated
light-stability tests. These require special test units equipped with high-intensity light sources in
which test strips can be exposed for days, weeks, months or even years, to produce the desired amount
of image fading (or staining). The temperature of the specimens and their moisture content shall be
controlled throughout the test period, and the types of light sources shall be chosen to yield data that
can be correlated satisfactorily with those obtained under conditions of normal use.
Accelerated light stability tests for predicting the behaviour of photographic colour images under
normal display conditions may be complicated by reciprocity failure. When applied to light-induced
fading and staining of colour images, reciprocity failure refers to the failure of many dyes to fade, or
to form stain, equally when dyes are irradiated with high-intensity versus low-intensity light, even
though the total light exposure (intensity × time) is kept constant through appropriate adjustments
in exposure duration (see Reference [1]). The extent of dye fading and stain formation can be greater
or smaller under accelerated conditions, depending on the photochemical reactions involved in the
dye degradation, the kind of dye dispersion, the nature of the binder material, and other variables. For
example, the supply of oxygen that can diffuse from the surrounding atmosphere into a photograph's
image-containing emulsion layers may be restricted in an accelerated test (dry gelatin is an excellent
oxygen barrier). This may change the rate of dye-fading relative to that which would occur under normal
display conditions. The temperature and moisture content of the test specimen also influence the
magnitude of reciprocity failure. Furthermore, light fading is influenced by the pattern of irradiation
(continuous versus intermittent) as well as by light/dark cycling rates.
For all these reasons, long-term changes in image density, colour balance and stain level can be
reasonably estimated only for conditions similar to those employed in the accelerated tests, or when
good correlation has been confirmed between accelerated tests and actual conditions of use.
In order to establish the validity of the test methods for evaluating the dark and light stability of
different types of photographic colour films and papers, the following product types were selected for
the tests:
a) colour negative film with incorporated oil-soluble couplers;
b) colour negative motion picture pre-print and negative films with incorporated oil-soluble couplers;
c) colour reversal film with incorporated oil-soluble couplers;
d) colour reversal film with incorporated Fischer-type couplers;
e) colour reversal film with couplers in the developers;
f) silver dye-bleach film and prints;
g) colour prints with incorporated oil-soluble couplers;
h) colour motion picture print films with incorporated oil-soluble couplers;
i) colour dye imbibition (dye transfer) prints;
j) integral colour instant print film with dye developers;
k) peel-apart colour instant print film with dye developers;
l) integral colour instant print film with dye releasers.
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ISO 18909:2022(E)
The results of extensive tests with these materials showed that the methods and procedures of this
document can be used to obtain meaningful information about the long-term dark stability and the
light stability of colour photographs made with a specific product. They also can be used to compare
the stability of colour photographs made with different products and to access the effects of processing
variations or post-processing treatments. The accuracy of predictions made on the basis of such
accelerated ageing tests will depend greatly upon the actual storage or display conditions.
It should also be remembered that density changes induced by the test conditions and measured during
and after the tests include those in the film or paper support and in the various auxiliary layers that
may be included in a particular product. With most materials, however, the major changes occur in the
dye image layers.
Stability when stored in the dark
The tests for predicting the stability of colour photographic images in dark storage are based on an
[2][3]
adaptation of the Arrhenius method described by Bard et al. ) and earlier references by Arrhenius,
Steiger and others (see References [4], [5] and [6]). Although this method is derived from well-
understood and proven theoretical precepts of chemistry, the validity of its application for predicting
changes of photographic images rests on empirical confirmation. Although many chromogenic-type
colour products yield image-fading and staining data in both accelerated and non-accelerated dark
ageing tests that are in good agreement with the Arrhenius relationship, some other types of products
do not.
NOTE For example, integral-type instant colour print materials often exhibit atypical staining at elevated
temperatures; treatment of some chromogenic materials at temperatures above 80 °C and 60 % RH can cause
loss of incorporated high-boiling solvents and abnormal image degradation; and the dyes of silver dye-bleach
images deaggregate at combinations of very high temperature and high relative humidity, causing abnormal
changes in colour balance and saturation (see Reference [7]). In general, photographic materials tend to undergo
dramatic changes at relative humidities above 60 % (especially at the high temperatures employed in accelerated
tests) owing to changes in the physical properties of gelatin.
Stability when exposed to light
The methods of testing light stability in this document are based on the concept that increasing the light
intensity without changing the spectral distribution of the illuminant or the ambient temperature and
relative humidity should produce a proportional increase in the photochemical reactions that occur at
typical viewing or display conditions, without introducing any undesirable side effects.
However, because of reciprocity failures that are discussed in this Introduction, this assumption does
not always apply. Thus, the accelerated light stability test methods described in this document are
valid at the specified accelerated test conditions, but may not reliably predict the behaviours of a given
product in long-term display under normal conditions.
Translucent print materials, designed for viewing by either reflected or transmitted light (or a
combination of reflected and transmitted light), shall be evaluated as transparencies or as reflection
prints, depending on how they will be used. Data shall be reported for each condition of intended use.
This document does not specify which of the several light stability tests is the most important for any
particular product.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 18909:2022(E)
Photography — Processed photographic colour films and
paper prints — Methods for measuring image stability
1 Scope
This document describes test methods for determining the long-term dark storage stability of colour
photographic images and the colour stability of such images when subjected to certain illuminants at
specified temperatures and relative humidities.
This document is applicable to colour photographic images made with traditional, continuous-
tone photographic materials with images formed with dyes. These images are generated with
chromogenic, silver dye-bleach, dye transfer, and dye-diffusion-transfer instant systems. The tests
have not been verified for evaluating the stability of colour images produced with dry- and liquid-toner
electrophotography, thermal dye transfer (sometimes called dye sublimation), ink jet, pigment-gelatin
systems, offset lithography, gravure and related colour imaging systems. If these reflection print
materials, including silver halide (chromogenic), are digitally printed, refer to ISO 18936, ISO 18941,
ISO 18946, and ISO 18949 for dark stability tests, and the ISO 18937 series for light stability tests.
This document does not include test procedures for the physical stability of images, supports or binder
materials. However, it is recognized that in some instances, physical degradation such as support
embrittlement, emulsion cracking or delamination of an image layer from its support, rather than image
stability, will determine the useful life of a colour film or print material.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 5-2, Photography and graphic technology — Density measurements — Part 2: Geometric conditions for
transmittance density
ISO 5-3, Photography and graphic technology — Density measurements — Part 3: Spectral conditions
ISO 5-4, Photography and graphic technology — Density measurements — Part 4: Geometric conditions for
reflection density
ISO 18911, Imaging materials — Processed safety photographic films — Storage practices
ISO 18913, Imaging materials — Permanence — Vocabulary
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 18913 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
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ISO 18909:2022(E)
4 Test methods — General
4.1 Sensitometric exposure
The photographic material shall be exposed and processed in accordance with the manufacturer’s
recommendations to obtain areas (patches) of uniform density at least 5 mm × 5 mm. This document
requires measuring the changes in colour densities in minimum density areas, d , and at a density
min
of 1,0 ± 0,05 above d . These changes are to be monitored in neutral areas, i.e. where the initial red,
...

FINAL
INTERNATIONAL ISO/FDIS
DRAFT
STANDARD 18909
ISO/TC 42
Photography — Processed
Secretariat: ANSI
photographic colour films and paper
Voting begins on:
2021-11-23 prints — Methods for measuring
image stability
Voting terminates on:
2022-01-18
Photographie — Films et papiers photographiques couleur traités —
Méthodes de mesure de la stabilité de l'image
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED TO
SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS, NOTIFICATION
OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT RIGHTS OF WHICH
THEY ARE AWARE AND TO PROVIDE SUPPOR TING
DOCUMENTATION.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
Reference number
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO-
ISO/FDIS 18909:2021(E)
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES,
DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON
OCCASION HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE
LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL TO BECOME STAN-
DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
NATIONAL REGULATIONS. © ISO 2021

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
ISO/FDIS 18909:2021(E)
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2021
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
  © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
ISO/FDIS 18909:2021(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction . vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Test methods — General . 2
4.1 Sensitometric exposure . 2
4.2 Processing . 2
4.3 Densitometry . 3
4.4 Definition of density terms . . 3
4.5 Density values to be measured . 3
4.6 Method of correction of density measurements for d changes . 4
min
4.6.1 General . 4
4.6.2 Transmission density corrected for d . 7
min
4.6.3 Reflection density corrected for d . 7
min
4.6.4 Colour balance in a neutral density patch . 7
4.6.5 d changes . 7
min
4.6.6 d colour balance . 7
min
4.7 Computation of image-life parameters . 8
4.8 Effects of dye fading and stain formation on the printing quality of colour negative
images. 8
5 Test methods — Dark stability .9
5.1 Introduction . 9
5.2 Test conditions . 9
5.3 Number of specimens . 10
5.4 Test equipment and operation for specimens free-hanging in air . 11
5.5 Test equipment and operation for specimens sealed in moisture-proof bags . 11
5.6 Conditioning and packaging of specimens in moisture-proof bags . 11
5.7 Incubation conditions for specimens sealed in moisture-proof bags . 11
5.8 Computation of dark stability . 11
6 Test methods — Light stability .12
6.1 Introduction . 12
6.2 Number of specimens . 12
6.3 Irradiance measurements and normalization of test results .12
6.4 Backing of test specimens during irradiation testing . 13
6.5 Specification for standard window glass . 13
6.6 High-intensity filtered xenon arc ID65 illuminant (50 klx to 100 klx) for simulated
indoor indirect daylight through window glass . 13
6.7 Glass-filtered fluorescent room illumination — Cool White fluorescent lamps
(80 klx or lower) . 16
6.8 Incandescent tungsten room illumination 3,0 klx – CIE illuminant A spectral
distribution . 19
6.9 Simulated outdoor sunlight (xenon arc) 100 klx – CIE D65 spectral distribution . 19
6.10 Intermittent tungsten-halogen lamp slide projection 1 000 klx . 21
6.11 Computation of light stability .22
7 Test report .22
7.1 Introduction . 22
7.2 Dark stability tests . . 25
7.3 Light stability tests . 25
Annex A (informative) A method of interpolation for step wedge exposures .27
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---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
ISO/FDIS 18909:2021(E)
Annex B (informative) Method for power formula d correction of reflection print
min
materials .28
Annex C (informative) Illustration of Arrhenius calculation for dark stability .33
Annex D (informative) The importance of the starting density in the assessment of dye
fading and colour balance changes in light-stability tests .37
Annex E (informative) Enclosure effects in light-stability tests with prints framedunder
glass or plastic sheets .39
Annex F (informative) Data treatment for the stability of light-exposed colour images .41
Bibliography .49
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---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------
ISO/FDIS 18909:2021(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 42, Photography.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 18909:2006), of which it constitutes a
minor revision. The changes are as follows:
— a corrigendum published in 2006 has been incorporated, and
— updates have been made to align and compliment test methods for digital print materials.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
v
© ISO 2021 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
ISO/FDIS 18909:2021(E)
Introduction
This document is divided into two parts. The first covers the methods and procedures for predicting
the long-term, dark storage stability of colour photographic images; the second covers the methods
and procedures for measuring the colour stability of such images when exposed to light of specified
intensities and spectral distribution, at specified temperatures and relative humidities.
Today, the majority of continuous-tone photographs are made with colour photographic materials. The
length of time that such photographs are to be kept can vary from a few days to many hundreds of
years and the importance of image stability can be correspondingly small or great. Often the ultimate
use of a particular photograph may not be known at the outset. Knowledge of the useful life of colour
photographs is important to many users, especially since stability requirements often vary depending
upon the application. For museums, archives, and others responsible for the care of colour photographic
materials, an understanding of the behaviour of these materials under various storage and display
conditions is essential if they are to be preserved in good condition for long periods of time.
Organic cyan, magenta and yellow dyes that are dispersed in transparent binder layers coated on to
transparent or white opaque supports form the images of most modern colour photographs. Colour
photographic dye images typically fade during storage and display; they will usually also change in
colour balance because the three image dyes seldom fade at the same rate. In addition, a yellowish (or
occasionally other colour) stain may form and physical degradation may occur, such as embrittlement
and cracking of the support and image layers. The rate of fading and staining can vary appreciably
and is governed principally by the intrinsic stability of the colour photographic material and by the
conditions under which the photograph is stored and displayed. The quality of chemical processing is
another important factor. Post-processing treatments, such as application of lacquers, plastic laminates
and retouching colours, may also affect the stability of colour materials.
The two main factors that influence storage behaviour, or dark stability, are the temperature and relative
humidity of the air that has access to the photograph. High temperature, particularly in combination
with high relative humidity, will accelerate the chemical reactions that can lead to degradation of one or
more of the image dyes. Low-temperature, low-humidity storage, on the other hand, can greatly prolong
the life of photographic colour images. Other potential causes of image degradation are atmospheric
pollutants (such as oxidizing and reducing gases), micro-organisms and insects.
Primarily the intensity of the illumination, the duration of exposure to light, the spectral distribution
of the illumination, and the ambient environmental conditions influence the stability of colour
photographs when displayed indoors or outdoors. (However, the normally slower dark fading and
staining reactions also proceed during display periods and will contribute to the total change in image
quality). Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is particularly harmful to some types of colour photographs and
can cause rapid fading as well as degradation of plastic layers such as the pigmented polyethylene layer
of resin-coated (RC) paper supports.
In practice, colour photographs are stored and displayed under varying combinations of temperature,
relative humidity and illumination, and for different lengths of time. For this reason, it is not possible to
precisely predict the useful life of a given type of photographic material unless the specific conditions
of storage and display are known in advance. Furthermore, the amount of change that is acceptable
differs greatly from viewer to viewer and is influenced by the type of scene and the tonal and colour
qualities of the image.
After extensive examination of amateur and professional colour photographs that have suffered varying
degrees of fading or staining, no consensus has been achieved on how much change is acceptable for
various image quality criteria. For this reason, this document does not specify acceptable end-points
for fading and changes in colour balance. Generally, however, the acceptable limits are twice as wide for
changes in overall image density as for changes in colour balance. For this reason, different criteria have
been used as examples in this document for predicting changes in image density and colour balance.
Pictorial tests can be helpful in assessing the visual changes that occur in light and dark stability tests,
but are not included in this document because no single scene is representative of the wide variety of
scenes actually encountered in photography.
vi
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---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------
ISO/FDIS 18909:2021(E)
In dark storage at normal room temperatures, most modern colour films and papers have images that
fade and stain too slowly to allow evaluation of the dark storage stability simply by measuring changes
in the specimens over time. In such cases, too many years would be required to obtain meaningful
stability data. It is possible, however, to assess in a relatively short time the probable long-term fading
and staining behaviour at moderate or low temperatures by means of accelerated ageing tests carried
out at high temperatures. The influence of relative humidity also can be evaluated by conducting the
high-temperature tests at two or more humidity levels.
Similarly, information about the light stability of colour photographs can be obtained from accelerated
light-stability tests. These require special test units equipped with high-intensity light sources in
which test strips can be exposed for days, weeks, months or even years, to produce the desired amount
of image fading (or staining). The temperature of the specimens and their moisture content shall be
controlled throughout the test period, and the types of light sources shall be chosen to yield data that
can be correlated satisfactorily with those obtained under conditions of normal use.
Accelerated light stability tests for predicting the behaviour of photographic colour images under
normal display conditions may be complicated by reciprocity failure. When applied to light-induced
fading and staining of colour images, reciprocity failure refers to the failure of many dyes to fade, or
to form stain. This even applies when dyes are irradiated with high-intensity versus low-intensity
light, even though the total light exposure (intensity × time) is kept constant through appropriate
adjustments in exposure duration (see Reference [1]). The extent of dye fading and stain formation
can be greater or smaller under accelerated conditions, depending on the photochemical reactions
involved in the dye degradation, the kind of dye dispersion, the nature of the binder material, and other
variables. For example, the supply of oxygen that can diffuse from the surrounding atmosphere into a
photograph's image-containing emulsion layers may be restricted in an accelerated test (dry gelatin is
an excellent oxygen barrier). This may change the rate of dye-fading relative to that which would occur
under normal display conditions. The temperature and moisture content of the test specimen also
influence the magnitude of reciprocity failure. Furthermore, light fading is influenced by the pattern of
irradiation (continuous versus intermittent) as well as by light/dark cycling rates.
For all these reasons, long-term changes in image density, colour balance and stain level can be
reasonably estimated only for conditions similar to those employed in the accelerated tests, or when
good correlation has been confirmed between accelerated tests and actual conditions of use.
In order to establish the validity of the test methods for evaluating the dark and light stability of
different types of photographic colour films and papers, the following product types were selected for
the tests:
a) colour negative film with incorporated oil-soluble couplers;
b) colour negative motion picture pre-print and negative films with incorporated oil-soluble couplers;
c) colour reversal film with incorporated oil-soluble couplers;
d) colour reversal film with incorporated Fischer-type couplers;
e) colour reversal film with couplers in the developers;
f) silver dye-bleach film and prints;
g) colour prints with incorporated oil-soluble couplers;
h) colour motion picture print films with incorporated oil-soluble couplers;
i) colour dye imbibition (dye transfer) prints;
j) integral colour instant print film with dye developers;
k) peel-apart colour instant print film with dye developers;
l) integral colour instant print film with dye releasers.
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ISO/FDIS 18909:2021(E)
The results of extensive tests with these materials showed that the methods and procedures of this
document can be used to obtain meaningful information about the long-term dark stability and the
light stability of colour photographs made with a specific product. They also can be used to compare
the stability of colour photographs made with different products and to access the effects of processing
variations or post-processing treatments. The accuracy of predictions made on the basis of such
accelerated ageing tests will depend greatly upon the actual storage or display conditions.
It should also be remembered that density changes induced by the test conditions and measured during
and after the tests include those in the film or paper support and in the various auxiliary layers that
may be included in a particular product. With most materials, however, the major changes occur in the
dye image layers.
Stability when stored in the dark
The tests for predicting the stability of colour photographic images in dark storage are based on an
[2][3]
adaptation of the Arrhenius method described by Bard et al. ) and earlier references by Arrhenius,
Steiger and others (see References [4], [5] and [6]). Although this method is derived from well-
understood and proven theoretical precepts of chemistry, the validity of its application for predicting
changes of photographic images rests on empirical confirmation. Although many chromogenic-type
colour products yield image-fading and staining data in both accelerated and non-accelerated dark
ageing tests that are in good agreement with the Arrhenius relationship, some other types of products
do not.
NOTE For example, integral-type instant colour print materials often exhibit atypical staining at elevated
temperatures; treatment of some chromogenic materials at temperatures above 80 °C and 60 % RH can cause
loss of incorporated high-boiling solvents and abnormal image degradation; and the dyes of silver dye-bleach
images deaggregate at combinations of very high temperature and high relative humidity, causing abnormal
changes in colour balance and saturation (see Reference [7]). In general, photographic materials tend to undergo
dramatic changes at relative humidities above 60 % (especially at the high temperatures employed in accelerated
tests) owing to changes in the physical properties of gelatine.
Stability when exposed to light
The methods of testing light stability in this document are based on the concept that increasing the light
intensity without changing the spectral distribution of the illuminant or the ambient temperature and
relative humidity should produce a proportional increase in the photochemical reactions that occur at
typical viewing or display conditions, without introducing any undesirable side effects.
However, because of reciprocity failures that are discussed in this Introduction, this assumption does
not always apply. Thus, the accelerated light stability test methods described in this document are
valid at the specified accelerated test conditions, but may not reliably predict the behaviours of a given
product in long-term display under normal conditions.
Translucent print materials, designed for viewing by either reflected or transmitted light (or a
combination of reflected and transmitted light), shall be evaluated as transparencies or as reflection
prints, depending on how they will be used. Data shall be reported for each condition of intended use.
This document does not specify which of the several light stability tests is the most important for any
particular product.
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FINAL DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/FDIS 18909:2021(E)
Photography — Processed photographic colour films and
paper prints — Methods for measuring image stability
1 Scope
This document describes test methods for determining the long-term dark storage stability of colour
photographic images and the colour stability of such images when subjected to certain illuminants at
specified temperatures and relative humidities.
This document is applicable to colour photographic images made with traditional, continuous-
tone photographic materials with images formed with dyes. These images are generated with
chromogenic, silver dye-bleach, dye transfer, and dye-diffusion-transfer instant systems. The tests
have not been verified for evaluating the stability of colour images produced with dry- and liquid-toner
electrophotography, thermal dye transfer (sometimes called dye sublimation), ink jet, pigment-gelatine
systems, offset lithography, gravure and related colour imaging systems. If these reflection print
materials, including silver halide (chromogenic), are digitally printed, refer to ISO 18936, ISO 18941,
ISO 18946, and ISO 18949 for dark stability tests, and the ISO 18937 series for light stability tests.
This document does not include test procedures for the physical stability of images, supports or binder
materials. However, it is recognized that in some instances, physical degradation such as support
embrittlement, emulsion cracking or delamination of an image layer from its support, rather than image
stability, will determine the useful life of a colour film or print material.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 5-2, Photography and graphic technology — Density measurements — Part 2: Geometric conditions for
transmittance density
ISO 5-3, Photography and graphic technology — Density measurements — Part 3: Spectral conditions
ISO 5-4, Photography and graphic technology — Density measurements — Part 4: Geometric conditions for
reflection density
ISO 18911, Imaging materials — Processed safety photographic films — Storage practices
ISO 18913, Imaging materials — Permanence — Vocabulary
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 18913 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
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