Image permanence is concerned with maintaining the aesthetic and informational content of the image as created by colorants on a substrate (e.g., dye-inks on photo-coated paper). The colorants may fade over time or change in hue, and the image substrate may discolor, turning from white to yellow. Image permanence ratings attempt to quantify the potential for change and extrapolate those results into years of life expectancy.

Print permanence is concerned with the stability of the image as well as with the physical integrity of the print as a whole, including its resistance to cracking, abrasion, and layer delamination. For example, an image may have been unaffected by light, humidity, and pollution, while the physical object may have become fragile, warranting special care and use policies.

Manufacturers of imaging materials (colorants and papers) often describe image permanence as a function of image stability without taking into consideration the stability of the entire print. It is important to understand that just because a material has a permanence rating of 100 years, it doesn't mean that the print won't degrade over time or be very sensitive to damage by handling.