Don’t let your art fade
Some watercolor colors stick around longer than others - don’t get let down by a shade or hue that may disappear in a few years time! How quickly a paint fades is determined by it’s pigment composition: some pigments degrade faster when exposed to UV light. Ones that break down super fast are called “fugitive” and ones that stick around have an “excellent/I” rating on the ASTM scale. Look up the paint you love below and see if it will fade before your love for it!
Things to Know and Disclaimers:
brands currently included: Winsor and Newton, Holbein, Daniel Smith
lightfast ratings/ASTM scores have been provided by the brands themselves - some data may be missing where it hasn’t been provided
If you think data is incorrect, or you have questions, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page
How are paints rated? Mostly they use the ASTM or Blue Wool Scale. For simplicity, the ASTM Scale can be rated by:
ASTM I (Excellent): Highest permanence, recommended for professional work (equivalent to 7-8 on the Blue Wool Scale).
ASTM II (Good): Good durability, lightfast under normal museum conditions (approx. 100 years).
ASTM III (Fair): Colors may fade within 50-75 years.
ASTM IV (Fugitive/Poor): Poor lightfastness; pigments fade quickly (15-20 years or less).
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