Kodak Endura and Duratrans
Summary:
Kodak Endura is a transparent or semi-transparent material used for digital laser imaging. The applications for this material are mainly used for large displays in airports, train stations and other high traffic areas. The Endura prints are backlit giving them a glowing effect. Before Endura prints there was the more commonly known Duratrans printing process.
There are two main types of Endura Transparency materials Endura Trans and Endura Clear:
“KODAK PROFESSIONAL ENDURA Transparency Display Material is for use on illuminators without built-in diffusers. This translucent-base color transparency material offers improved color saturation for brighter colors and a more uniform D-max generating blacker blacks.
KODAK PROFESSIONAL ENDURA Clear Display Material is a clear-base color transparency material for use on illuminators with built-in diffusers. Perfect for creating large, brilliant display transparencies.”
“Duratrans Backlit Film is the professional choice for deepest color saturation, best contrast and highest pixel resolution achievable in a backlit graphics media. Duratrans is available in seamless sizes up to 50" x 20 ft. on our roll-fed system, or up to 6 ft. x 10 ft. on our sheet-fed system. Also, to gain extended color life, as well as additional durability and/or stiffness, you may upgrade to any of our premium UV-resistant surface laminates.”
The material is light sensitive and is handled much like photo paper, however you need a very expensive printer such as the DURST LAMBDA (http://www.durst.it/en/durst-phototechnik-ag/home/products-photo/lambda-hs.html) and EPSILON Printers.
Due to the high machine cost printing companies such as these are an affordable way to take advantage of professional services:
Once printed, Endura and Duratrans will most likely require a backlit box either handmade or ordered from somewhere such as http://www.blueriverdigital.com/ or http://www.ebay.com
On a side note there are some digital backlit printing processes out there as well.
Here is a great conversation about some of the processes and differences:
“I've been having problems with lambdas vs lightjets as far as text sharpness. As the lambdas are getting older they don't hold focus as well and get more falloff at the sides because Lambdas shoot from a turret. Lightjets are on a bar and tend to hold sharpness all the way across the print. Of course, Lightjet has a 120" length limit. Lambda length limit is the length of a roll of film.
On a Lambda ask for a 400 speed print rather than a 200 (normal production). This helps the sharpness.”
On a Lambda ask for a 400 speed print rather than a 200 (normal production). This helps the sharpness.”
Artists Who Use Endura and Duratrans:
Ansen Seale: Uses a custom made scanner camera and uses Duratrans to create landscapes with custom lighting methods.
Ives Maes: His work often focuses on durable energy and the Duratrans printing method offers a great analogy for his theme.
Jennifer Kostuik:
Vitro Drago:
http://www.englandgallery.com/artist_group.php?mainId=63&media=Constructions%20%26%20mixed%20media
http://www.englandgallery.com/artist_group.php?mainId=63&media=Constructions%20%26%20mixed%20media
Interest:
Exploring ways to break my images free of the frame I am looking into ways to make my images more of an artifact. I am mimicking ads therefore I feel I should display them in their appropriate mediums, newspapers, magazines, billboards, posters, flyers, backlit displays, television monitors, etc.
The Endura and Duratrans printing is one of the methods that is affordable that I can use to push my photographs to a new audience in new locations.
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