Background: The Library of Congress has a very active program to bind thousands of books a year. Some library binders are offering covers for paperback/softbound books that involve replacing the original book cover with a laminated color electrophotographic digital print of the cover image. Such covers are reinforced facsimiles of the original book covers, used instead of book cloth to make new hardcovers for the paperback books. There is currently no information regarding the preservation quality of the facsimiles to permit educated decisions regarding their use.
Contributing Studies:
- IPA Digital Print Forum 2008: An Independent Technical Evaluation of Digital Printing Technologies.
[PDF: 1.4KB / 6 p.] IPA, The Association of Graphic Solutions Providers; Edina, MN; 2008. (accessed 4-14-2011). - IPA Digital Print Forum 2009: An Independent Technical Evaluation of Digital Printing Technologies. IPA, The Association of Graphic Solutions Providers; Edina, MN; 2009. (accessed 4-14-2011).
- Experimental Results of the DP3 Project. ® Rochester Institute of Technology/IPI; Rochester, NY. (accessed 4-14-2011).
Project Description: The hypotheses of this research are that (1) colorimetric analysis can reveal how well the facsimiles reproduce the original cover art, and (2) results from artificial light aging can predict the long-term light stability of the facsimiles under natural aging conditions. To test these hypotheses, the Library is performing a pilot project to evaluate nylon-laminated prints manufactured by using two different digital printing presses. The project involves using:
- Colorimetry to quantitate differences in color between the original book covers and the laminated facsimiles.
- An Atlas Weather-Ometer to artificially age the facsimiles using approximately two-to-three times the intensity of window-glass filtered sunlight.
- Colorimetry, abrasion resistance and laminate adhesion tests, and mass spectrometry to quantitate the physical and chemical impact of the artificial light aging on the facsimiles.
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