Color paper fading

I have my solid color cardstock and scraps, (couple main brands like bazzil), “out in the open” by a terrace door. Occasionally there is direct sunlight, at best 2-3 hours a week. Rest of the time defused sunlight. I started to see signs that my paper was fading but I shrugged it off. Now I am really seeing definite signs that my paper is fading like the top inch is a lighter, washed out color on the paper stored vertically and the exact outline of the grid of the storage box.
I really like the storing it “out in the open” but if this stuff is really that sensitive to light I have to rethink this.

Does anyone have any ideas how to cover paper storage... something easy & fast (and doesn’t look too dorky as my scrap area is in the living room). Will throwing a pillow case over the whole thing be good enough to stop the sunlight fading?

PS This is solid color, very good quality, "bought by the sheet" scrapbooking paper.

I would think that a pillowcase would be fine, provided it's a dark one that's going to keep the sun from going through. I don't think white or pastels would do much to block the sunlight.

You could put a cheap white piece of paper on the outside parts of your storage box. That way the light would hit the white paper and not your nice colored paper.

what do you have it stored in? Can you have it in a drawer organizer? Like one of those sterilite bins (see pic - 2nd shelf)?

Scrap Area 2010 By Just G

You can use a 12x12 piece of chipboard (like the back of a paper stack) on top of your paper stack.

I have the paper stored in cropper hoppers and I am seeing the grid on the side on my papers now. I do have plastic dividers on the edge but the sun is getting to the paper and even through the paper to other sheets. I would have never thought the sun could bleach through paper 4 & 5 sheets thick.

wow, good warning to all of us, Gelidy,,,and btw, I've heard ANY light (even artificial) can fade things,,,,,,,so it doesn't have to be sunny for this to happen,,,,,

I have cabinets that I stack my paper on,,,when I am scrapping, I open them all,,,,,so I can see everything,,,,,when not scrapping, I close them all, and the paper is in the dark,,,,

do you have anything like that that you could employ?

I think I am going to get some nice fabric and make a cover, like the old fashion toaster covers. And while I'm at it I can make a matching cover for my cricut.

Oooooooooooooooo you crafty thing you!!!!!! great idea,,,then you can yank the whole cover off when scrapping and have easy access and a birds eye view of it all, and cover it up when done,,,,you might want to find out from the fabric store, which ones might have more light blocking effects,,,,maybe something thick, or dark, or you could line it with something,,,,,let us know how it works!

I had to comment on this.

Naturally, after paper has been exposed to direct sunlight, it will fade.

I now have my own scraproom, with a table in front of the window.

I laid out some paper and photos to arrange a layout last Monday (July 5), and left them on the table. I went in there yesterday, Sunday (July 11) to work on it ---- 6 DAYS later!!!


I moved the photos, and the cardstock they had been set on had faded, very noticably!!! IN 6 DAYS!!!!! Yes, granted, it IS right in front of a window, and it has been sunny, but.... 6 days?!


I assumed (apparently in correctly) that part of the properties of being acid/lignin-free and archival safe, was some fade resistance.

I did test this particular paper with my ph pen (it appears to test 'safe'). Granted, this is NOT the environment I typically store layouts in, it makes me wonder. How long before the paper in my books starts to fade? Does it matter? You'd probably only notice if you moved something off the page.

wow linda, fading after only 6 days...

Sure I would see the occasional fading on paper that is a few years old but I never expected to see fading on brand new papers so quickly.

It also makes me think I have to use more care storing my finished albums. A couple I have just out in the open.

I was shocked too!

It's dark brown paper. You can definitely see where the items had been on top of it (maybe I'll try an photograph it to show here). It was just like construction paper looks after some exposure. That's what prompted me to test it with the ph pen. I *think* it's testing good. The purple line I drew yesterday has faded some, but it's still visible (my key says purple/blue =good yellow/colorless= bad).

I'm wondering if this particular paper is not 100% acid free.

I'm wondering about the layouts I have in frames or out on display.

Some papers that I used (Colorbok)about 10 years ago faded HORRIBLY in my books. And it's just that paper, even on layouts where I used that paper with other paper, it's the Colorbok cardstock that faded...sometimes to the point of looking like a totally different color My blue looks like light gray, red like pinky orange, purple looks like blue gray.

It's acid/lignin free, but the dye apparently wasn't long lasting.

Thanks for the tip about colorbok c/s. I just got some and I will make sure it gets used on cards, etc. I would hate to have this happen to layouts so easily.

I don't know if they use the same dye/whatever that they did 10 years ago, it could be fine now. But, I don't want to wait and find out either, lOL

• Here Kitty Said:

I don't want to find out the hard way either, I might do a test but having c/s out in a sunny spot means the kids would get it.

Corrie, if you are going to do cards if it fades, maybe do up a card and leave some scraps in the sunlight? Then you won't be wasting a whole sheet and have something made at least

If you do test it can you let me know how it goes?

I too worry about paper fading. I have mine on a rolling stand in two crates. It is easy to access that way. I have a light weight flsses blanket -- not too big- about 4x6 feet- I throw this over and it drapes all around. I'll use this until I find or make something better. Wouldn't it look great to make cricut cover, paper cover and curtains all matching.... now that's industrious!!!

Just a suggestion.

If anyone is 'testing' paper for fading, put something smaller on top of it. It will be easier to judge the fading. When you move whatever you having covering part, you'll see the difference/fading.

My guess is that the papers in books will not fade, because they are closed, which provides darkness... just a thought.

• Jordannichole Said:

I think they will still fade, but not at the rate it would if open to light all the time. Hopefully it will take decades, not days!

• Bxr-Linda Said:

My layouts were in albums that were closed and not stored anywhere near sunlight - still faded badly.

• Here Kitty Said:

And that was within about 10 years? If they had been exposed to light, they probably would have faded in DAYS!

Although that's still not good, in my opinion. I want my layouts to look pretty after 20-30-40 years!

I think I did this as a specific 'technique' years ago - so if you are going to test it anyway, why not make it useful? Cut the test piece to fit on a card, then attach a cutout of something pretty and put in the sun to fade. You can test your paper and also have a pretty watermark effect with the results. (I just have to check if the cutout has to be a darker color or specific paper or something - can't remember that part).

Found it - its called Sunprinting. There is a special kind of paper called Sunprint paper (duh) You put the paper down, put objects on it, put in the sun and in a matter of minutes it changes - the paper under the object remains white, while the borders or rest of the paper turns a pretty cobalt blue. (You have to 'wash' the paper once you get your desired effect - to stop the fading process I guess). Its obvious that you don't have to use that special paper though - it seems it will all fade if left in the sun. If you google sunprints (there is a scientific name that starts with 'c' I think - but sunprint should do it) it will bring up all kinds of sites.



Sorry for sort of the hijack - but I thought some of you might find this interesting -and it's always good to 'know your enemy' so to speak.

Here's a good kid's project - and there's a good explanation of what's happening to the paper too. With the colorbok - the particular dye they use(d) may be affected more deeply or even by air??

Sun Prints

You can make fun pictures by using the sun's power to make the color fade from construction paper! This project uses repositionable glue, which you can find in most stores that sell office or school supplies. (Elmer's and Scotch brands both make this type of glue.) You could also do the project by setting objects on your paper and laying it flat in the sun instead of using the special glue.

What You Will Need:

•dark colors of construction paper
•solid objects with interesting shapes that you can trace around (leaves, buttons, coins, and plastic toys work well)
•pencil
•scissors
•repositionable glue (Optional. Made by Elmer's or Scotch brands and available where office or school supplies are sold.)
•a window that gets lots of sunlight
•tape
What To Do:

1.Trace around your objects on construction paper and cut out each shape. Or, you can draw your own shapes and cut them out. Be creative! You could even draw letters to spell your name.
2.Arrange the paper shapes onto a new sheet of dark-colored construction paper to make a nice design.
3.Use the repositionable glue to stick each shape to your picture. Don't use much glue though, or it will be hard to peel your shapes off later.
4.Turn the shapes towards the window and tape the corners of your picture to the window to hold it in place.
5.Leave your picture in the window for a couple days or until you notice that the color of the construction paper has started to fade (compare it to a new piece of the same color of paper to see if it has changed).
6.When it is quite a bit lighter than it was when you started (it might take up to a week to get light enough; it depends on how many sunny days you have!), untape the picture from the window and peel off the shapes; they should come off pretty easily, just do it slowly to make sure your picture doesn't tear.

What's Happening?

Have you ever left an art project made from construction paper in the sun for too long? If so, you probably noticed that the color started to fade and the paper ended up a lot lighter than it once was. In this project, you covered parts of the paper with paper shapes, then when you left your picture in the sunlight, it started to fade. Since the shapes blocked sunlight from hitting the parts of the paper that they covered, you could see the original color of the paper after you peeled off the shapes! The extra layer of paper from the shapes protected those parts of the paper from the sun's rays that faded the color from the rest of the sheet of paper.

Sunlight contains ultraviolet (or UV) rays - the same rays that will give you a sunburn if you are in the sun for too long without sunscreen on. Those rays cause chemical reactions in the dye that gives construction paper its color. When the paper absorbs the rays of light, a chemical reaction breaks down the dyes so they aren't as bright. UV rays can lighten a lot of things. Some people's hair turns a lighter color when they are in a lot of sunlight. Hanging white laundry outside in the sun to dry can make it look whiter also.

I did a test on Colorbok cardstock I bought in 2008 and it was fine. I took a piece of cardstock and put small scraps on top then put this in a window for over a week. I checked today and there was no fading. I know someone had a problem with this brand fading in an album but maybe the newer stuff doesn't do it?