Fading of a Collection of Coloured Objects

Select the type of collection from the list below

Collection Selection

Collection:  Oil paintings, water colours, gouache Prints, drawings, ephemera Textiles 1750-1900

Enter the parameters that best estimate the past exposure of this collection and then click the Compute Fading button. This will provide an estimate of how different parts of the collection have faded different amounts, and how the colour gamut may have changed. See Collection Comments at the bottom of the page for details on this particular collection. Note: Do this before entering the future light exposure.

Prior exposure inputs

Intensity of light (lux): Intensity of light? 0.1 lux full moonlight 1 lux, candlelight at arms length 10 lux, minimum to see color 20 lux 30 lux 40 lux 50 lux, the young see many objects well 60 lux 70 lux 80 lux 90 lux 100 lux 150 lux, the young see dark objects well 200 lux 300 lux 400 lux 500 lux, the old see many objects well 600 lux 700 lux, typical office lighting at desk level 800 lux 900 lux 1000 lux 5,000 lux, inspection lamps 10,000 lux, overcast sky 30,000 lux, average daylight, hazy sky 100,000 lux, direct sunshine

Exposure per day: Zero exposure 6 minutes per day 12 minutes per day 30 minutes per day 1 hour per day 2 hours per day 3 hours per day 4 hours per day 5 hours per day 6 hours per day 7 hours per day 8 hours per day 9 hours per day 10 hours per day 11 hours per day 12 hours per day 13 hours per day 14 hours per day 15 hours per day 16 hours per day 17 hours per day 18 hours per day 19 hours per day 20 hours per day 21 hours per day 22 hours per day 23 hours per day 24 hours per day

Days per year: 0 days per year 1 day per year 2 days per year 3 days per year 5 days per year 10 days per year 1 month per year 2 months per year 3 months per year 4 months per year 6 months per year 5 days per week 6 days per week every day of the year

Years: 0 Years 1 year 2 years 3 years 4 years 5 years 7 years 10 years 15 years 20 years 30 years 40 years 50 years 75 years 100 years 150 years 200 years 300 years 400 years 500 years 750 years 1000 years

Prior exposure with UV: Yes No

Prior dose: 0.00 Mlx h

Enter the parameters for the planned light exposure and then click the Compute Fading button. Use the slider to see the effects of less than 100% of the planned exposure.

Future exposure inputs

Intensity of light (lux): Intensity of light? 0.1 lux full moonlight 1 lux, candlelight at arms length 10 lux, minimum to see color 20 lux 30 lux 40 lux 50 lux, the young see many objects well 60 lux 70 lux 80 lux 90 lux 100 lux 150 lux, the young see dark objects well 200 lux 300 lux 400 lux 500 lux, the old see many objects well 600 lux 700 lux, typical office lighting at desk level 800 lux 900 lux 1000 lux 5,000 lux, inspection lamps 10,000 lux, overcast sky 30,000 lux, average daylight, hazy sky 100,000 lux, direct sunshine

Exposure per day: Zero exposure 6 minutes per day 12 minutes per day 30 minutes per day 1 hour per day 2 hours per day 3 hours per day 4 hours per day 5 hours per day 6 hours per day 7 hours per day 8 hours per day 9 hours per day 10 hours per day 11 hours per day 12 hours per day 13 hours per day 14 hours per day 15 hours per day 16 hours per day 17 hours per day 18 hours per day 19 hours per day 20 hours per day 21 hours per day 22 hours per day 23 hours per day 24 hours per day

Days per year: 0 days per year 1 day per year 2 days per year 3 days per year 5 days per year 10 days per year 1 month per year 2 months per year 3 months per year 4 months per year 6 months per year 5 days per week 6 days per week every day of the year

Years: 0 Years 1 year 2 years 3 years 4 years 5 years 7 years 10 years 15 years 20 years 30 years 40 years 50 years 75 years 100 years 150 years 200 years 300 years 400 years 500 years 750 years 1000 years

Future exposure with UV: Yes No

Future dose: 0.00 Mlx h

Total of prior dose and future dose: 0.00 Mlx h

 (required when any of the above options are changed)

Use the slider to observe fading from 0% to 100% of the future exposure settings

%   Mlx h

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Legal Disclaimer

The Light Damage Calculator was designed by the Canadian Conservation Institute as a tool to help museum staff estimate the effects of lighting on the fading of collections or individual objects under various lighting regimes.

The Light Damage Calculator was designed for convenience and should only be used as a reference tool. The Canadian Conservation Institute makes no representation about the accuracy, reliability, completeness of the calculator or the results to be obtained from its use. All information obtained are without any warranty of any kind. The Canadian Conservation Institute disclaims all express, implied and statutory warranties in accordance with the lighting regimes calculated by this calculator, neither assumes any responsibility with respect to any particular results of the fading of objects or collections nor how the results are applied to actual situations.