Can I use touch-up pens on prints made with KODAK EKTATHERM XTRALIFE Media?
Prints made with XTRALIFE Media have a clear laminate layer which is applied to the surface of the print during the fourth pass of the printing process. The purpose of the layer is to enhance the durability of the print compared to non-laminated thermal prints. The laminate material in XTRALIFE Media is made of a polymer (plastic) therefore the surface of prints made with XTRALIFE Media is different from conventional photographs in which the surface is a gelatin. Kodak has not tested touch-up pens on prints made with XTRALIFE Media and cannot make a recommendation for their use. However, it is known that most organic solvents (such as methanol or acetone) dissolves the laminate layer and attacks the dyes. Therefore, pens or markers that contain these chemicals should not be used on prints made with XTRALIFE Media. Kodak has tested some pens to determine their suitability for writing on the prints, for autographs, for example. A SHARPIE Permanent Marker worked fine for this purpose. • C
