Always find lightfast testing results interesting! I don’t sell anything and mostly work in sketchbooks, but I still try to use lightfast colours most of the time, so I don’t have to worry if I do produce something that I might want to hang on the wall.
Thank you very much for updating! I was really waiting for these results, I'm surprised to see how it turned. And how at lightfast are some of those. Also very nice to see that W&N did really great!
Thank you for sharing! I absolutely love neon fluorescent colors and can't imagine painting without them. I decided I'm happy to paint with them knowing they will fade with time because at least for some time I will have their brightness. What I try to stay away from are those that fade to almost nothing. The Jacksons pastels were very disappointing! Thank you for sharing !
Very, very helpful. I have the Paul Rubens set, and also the Holbein Bright Rose, so now I know for sure! Irit Landgraf sent me over from her channel, and I know she finds it supremely helpful too. I heard someone else say their W&N didn't fade when they tested it, so your result corroborates theirs. I wonder why theirs is more lasting? Thanks, I know this type of testing is hard work (this is why I never seem to do any of my own!)
I totally forgot about these swatches you were testing out in terms of lightfast. It's facinating to see how much certain colors have faded or not faded. Nice video Helen, thank you :)
Very helpful! Thanks for lightfast testing these colors. I live in south Texas, so my results might vary! One of the things that I've always been interested in is seeing how spray fixatives with UV lightfastness work, especially with watercolor and fugitive pigments. If they work as advertised, why don't more watercolorists use them?
It's so funny - I've used UV spray for ages on my alcohol inks, but it never even occurred to me till someone else commented on this, on this video!! I need to do some more experiments!
This is really fascinating. I’m about a month into my own test in a south-facing window of only my set of 12 Turner Design Gouache. I’m testing it because I finally opened the package (bought on sale on a whim), and ended up loving the mixing possibilities. But, I realized that it has several colors which I wouldn’t think are “fluorescent,” but which do have some sort of fluorescent pigment added to a more lightfast pigment. For example, quinacridone magenta (PR122, I think) and some fluorescent pigment. I have wondered what will happen in the sun… will the color remain pretty strong but lose a certain vibrancy? That seems to be what happened with a few of yours - the ones which fared the best.
Ah, something useful for once! For no apparent reason, when the algorithm gives art-related videos, they're always something I can't do anything with--like Jazza painting the inside of a transparent hemisphere. I'm not looking to pick up weird new techniques or anything like that, but something like this, even though I don't use fluorescent colors much, knowing something about light-fastness may prove helpful...and is at least somewhat interesting for its own sake.
Good morning , Helen , another very informative video , many thanks . I noticed a Daler Rowney System 3 entrant which is Student Quality and wondered if the products you tested were a mixture of the professional and student quality and if so were there obvious differences. I am not familiar enough with the products tested so any comments please . Thank you once again , Helen , Mike in Exeter xx
I had a mixture of Student and Artist materials here, and I'm not sure it makes much difference - Fluorescent dyes are just not permanent. The only surprise to me out of all the results were that there was one which hadn't faded yet.
Interesting results! I stay away from using fugitive colours in my work for the most part! If I need to use a questionable pigment then I'll spay my piece with a few coats of a UV varnish/fixative just in case!
I usually only use lightfast materials too - especially when selling. The exception is my alcohol ink paintings, which I always spray with a few coats of UV varnish, but I'd never even thought about using it on watercolours/acrylics! I think I need to do a whole load of new experiments now - thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you for your experiment! I always wondered why neon and opera colors were rated so low on lightfastness, and now I can fully comprehend what they mean. 4 months isn’t even that long in artwork standards 🙀
I don't think my paintings are likely to ever become important, but worth is determined by the individual - to me they are worth it because using them in sketchbooks brings me enjoyment.
Of the 58/59 ? cols. you swatched ( May have mis counted), was nearly as disappointed as you were at the results! Glad you’re placing them back in daylight as over the summer months I’m sure more fading will occur. Although I think you mentioned not under lab. circumstances, still very interesting results. Thanks for showing them.
Oh wow!! Most of these are paints and pen/pencils that I don’t buy. I always try to buy the top brands hoping the lightfastness is better. I know fluorescents and reds are the worst to fade but these seem extreme for only 4 months ~ especially Paul Ruben. I’m sorry Helen.
Always find lightfast testing results interesting! I don’t sell anything and mostly work in sketchbooks, but I still try to use lightfast colours most of the time, so I don’t have to worry if I do produce something that I might want to hang on the wall.
Wow, I’m impressed with Rosa results 😳
I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds this fascinating
Thank you very much for updating! I was really waiting for these results, I'm surprised to see how it turned. And how at lightfast are some of those. Also very nice to see that W&N did really great!
Thanks!
Thank you for sharing! I absolutely love neon fluorescent colors and can't imagine painting without them.
I decided I'm happy to paint with them knowing they will fade with time because at least for some time I will have their brightness. What I try to stay away from are those that fade to almost nothing. The Jacksons pastels were very disappointing! Thank you for sharing !
Thanks Irit!
Very, very helpful. I have the Paul Rubens set, and also the Holbein Bright Rose, so now I know for sure! Irit Landgraf sent me over from her channel, and I know she finds it supremely helpful too. I heard someone else say their W&N didn't fade when they tested it, so your result corroborates theirs. I wonder why theirs is more lasting? Thanks, I know this type of testing is hard work (this is why I never seem to do any of my own!)
Thanks ever so much!
I totally forgot about these swatches you were testing out in terms of lightfast. It's facinating to see how much certain colors have faded or not faded. Nice video Helen, thank you :)
Thank you!!
Very helpful! Thanks for lightfast testing these colors. I live in south Texas, so my results might vary! One of the things that I've always been interested in is seeing how spray fixatives with UV lightfastness work, especially with watercolor and fugitive pigments. If they work as advertised, why don't more watercolorists use them?
It's so funny - I've used UV spray for ages on my alcohol inks, but it never even occurred to me till someone else commented on this, on this video!! I need to do some more experiments!
Doesn't it darken the colors for the whole artwork when it's sprayed?
It doesn't affect the darkness of alcohol inks, but I don't know about anything else.
This is really fascinating. I’m about a month into my own test in a south-facing window of only my set of 12 Turner Design Gouache. I’m testing it because I finally opened the package (bought on sale on a whim), and ended up loving the mixing possibilities. But, I realized that it has several colors which I wouldn’t think are “fluorescent,” but which do have some sort of fluorescent pigment added to a more lightfast pigment. For example, quinacridone magenta (PR122, I think) and some fluorescent pigment. I have wondered what will happen in the sun… will the color remain pretty strong but lose a certain vibrancy? That seems to be what happened with a few of yours - the ones which fared the best.
Yes, I should that's what will happen.
I watched another artist test colors with questionable lightfastness, and WN opera rose did surprisingly well compared to others.
That's good to hear! This was the one surprise of the whole test, for me!
such a fascinating video ☺☺
So helpful 😊
Ah, something useful for once! For no apparent reason, when the algorithm gives art-related videos, they're always something I can't do anything with--like Jazza painting the inside of a transparent hemisphere. I'm not looking to pick up weird new techniques or anything like that, but something like this, even though I don't use fluorescent colors much, knowing something about light-fastness may prove helpful...and is at least somewhat interesting for its own sake.
Haha - thanks!!
Good morning , Helen , another very informative video , many thanks . I noticed a Daler Rowney System 3 entrant which is Student Quality and wondered if the products you tested were a mixture of the professional and student quality and if so were there obvious differences. I am not familiar enough with the products tested so any comments please . Thank you once again , Helen , Mike in Exeter xx
I had a mixture of Student and Artist materials here, and I'm not sure it makes much difference - Fluorescent dyes are just not permanent. The only surprise to me out of all the results were that there was one which hadn't faded yet.
Interesting results! I stay away from using fugitive colours in my work for the most part! If I need to use a questionable pigment then I'll spay my piece with a few coats of a UV varnish/fixative just in case!
I usually only use lightfast materials too - especially when selling. The exception is my alcohol ink paintings, which I always spray with a few coats of UV varnish, but I'd never even thought about using it on watercolours/acrylics! I think I need to do a whole load of new experiments now - thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you!!!
Thank you for your experiment! I always wondered why neon and opera colors were rated so low on lightfastness, and now I can fully comprehend what they mean. 4 months isn’t even that long in artwork standards 🙀
right? A painting has to be prepared to survive multiple lifetimes, especially if it gets discovered or becomes important. 4 months is worthless.
I think the fluorescent elements in these materials are dye based and just aren't permanent. They're just for a bit of fun!
I don't think my paintings are likely to ever become important, but worth is determined by the individual - to me they are worth it because using them in sketchbooks brings me enjoyment.
Of the 58/59 ? cols. you swatched ( May have mis counted), was nearly as disappointed as you were at the results! Glad you’re placing them back in daylight as over the summer months I’m sure more fading will occur. Although I think you mentioned not under lab. circumstances, still very interesting results. Thanks for showing them.
It was pretty much what I expected overall - I was curious if some held up better than others though.
@@helencryer Apart from the few that were ok I was surprised at how much the colours faded in a very short space of time.
Oh wow!! Most of these are paints and pen/pencils that I don’t buy. I always try to buy the top brands hoping the lightfastness is better. I know fluorescents and reds are the worst to fade but these seem extreme for only 4 months ~ especially Paul Ruben. I’m sorry Helen.
Oh, it's fine - it's pretty much what I was expecting. Brand has little to do with it when fluorescent dyes are used - they just aren't permanent.
fluorescents and Neons are the number one paint that are gonna fade. so they are almost never worth the money. All of these faded horribly.
Yes, as expected. However they're a delight to use in sketchbooks!
I think it depends on use. I have a wonderful handmade fluorescent yellow that I often use for brightening effects. But I’m not selling originals. 😊