This especially affects Premium Photo Glossy, HP Design Glossy, and other media with non-permeable base sheets. It may be particularly noticeable if a print is only partially covered--the uncovered part of the print will appear lighter than the covered part. Even though the print may appear "dry" to the touch a few minutes after printing, there is still a significant amount of water left in the media coating. Until this water has evaporated, the colorant on the media is still slightly mobile, and may spread further on the page, producing a darker appearance. A similar effect can occur if prints are exposed to a very high humidity environment even after they have dried. Let the prints dry for a full day uncovered, or interleave prints with plain paper or other "absorbent" material after printing. Avoid printing or storage in high humidity environments (above 70 or 80% Relative Humidity). |