Why pigment lightfastness matters
- Pigments
When choosing a colour it is important to watch not only its shade but also how it will behave over time.
Lightfastness describes a pigment’s resistance to colour change caused by exposure to light.
Every pigment is different
Different pigments can have different resistance to light. Some are very stable, others may gradually lose intensity under long exposure.
Lightfastness is therefore an important property, especially for works meant to keep their original appearance for a long time.
It is not only the shade
Two pigments can look similar, but their behaviour over time can differ.
When choosing a pigment it is good to watch not only the colour itself but also its technical properties — for example the Colour Index, lightfastness, transparency or opacity.
Technical information as part of the colour
Professional work with pigments is not only about how beautiful a colour looks. It is also about understanding the material you work with.
That is exactly why it makes sense to know a pigment’s origin and its technical properties.
The better you know a pigment, the more control you have over the result.