More Terminology:

Archival Quality, Museum Quality, Conservation Quality…

All of these terms refer to a quality of materials that are designed to last for around 100 years (under ideal conditions) when it comes to any kind of art print. “Museum Quality” tends to utilize more costly material such as 100% cotton rag; while “Conservation Quality” utilizes alpha-cellulose wood pulp which is processed and refined to be archival. What it ultimately means is that EVERYTHING that comes in contact with the image must be, among other things, acid-free, OBA-free (optical brightening agents), and lignin-free (organic polymer that gives a woody structure) in order to be considered “archival.”

Mystic Wander Photographic Art uses the following:

Archival Quality Ink

Archival pigment-based ink is a type of ink used to color paper and other surfaces. Pigments are tiny particles of solid matter suspended in a liquid or gas medium, such as water or air. This type of ink has been around for centuries and was originally made from natural pigments like those found in plants, animals, and minerals. Unlike dye-based inks, pigment inks are water-resistant and more fade-resistant. Mystic Wander uses only archival pigment ink with an expanded color gamut (10 or more different color inkjet cartridges) on ALL giclée prints.

Archival Quality Paper

Cotton rag, also known as rag paper or simply "rag," is made using cotton linters or cotton from cloth (rags) as the primary material. Cotton paper is superior in both strength and durability to regular wood pulp-based paper and also absorbs ink or toner better. Images printed on cotton fiber paper will last longer and hold up better under repeated handling and various environmental conditions than images printed on regular wood pulp paper. Generally, given reasonable care, you can expect one year of usable life for every 1% of cotton contained in the sheet. Mystic Wander uses 100% cotton rag for paper prints (weight of 315 gsm at 16.5 mil thick) and prints them in-house. (Note: Cards are printed on 100% archival grade alpha-cellulose paper.)

Archival Quality Acrylic

Acrylic prints are renowned as the highest quality prints globally, offering unparalleled color accuracy, sharpness, and detail. Their vivid colors and dynamic depth create a luminous effect, ensuring images are lit from within. With exceptional durability and UV protection, they remain vibrant and crisp for years.

Mystic Wander acrylic prints are produced by an outside lab and consists of Giclée pigment ink printed on cotton rag photo paper. This is then mounted between layers of crystal clear adhesives and archival 99% UV-protected acrylic. They are made in a cleanroom with a labor intensive process for each of the 5 layers. Every acrylic print is machine cut with a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine which produces a satin, machine cut edge.

Chromaluxe Metal Prints

Metal prints are celebrated for their unmatched durability and vibrant color presentation, delivering extraordinary sharpness and detail at a lower cost than acrylic. The sleek, modern finish enhances the luminosity of each image, making colors pop with a radiant glow. With superior fade resistance, metal prints maintain their brilliance over time, embodying the pinnacle of photographic reproduction.

Mystic Wander Chromaluxe metal prints are also produced by an outside lab. The image is first printed to a transfer paper, then infused (via “dye sublimation”) into Chromaluxe metal by heat and pressure. This process combined with custom made color profiles give true to life colors along with exceptional detail.