Traditionally this test was developed for the textiles industry but it has now been adopted by the printing industry as measure of lightfastness of ink colourants. This forms a numerical scale of 1 to 8 where 1 has the poorest light fastness, to 8 which has the best light fastness. The Blue Wool standard relates to our star icons as follows: Blue Wool Scale and the light-fastness of ink The Blue Wool Scale measures and calibrates the permanence of colouring. Blue Wool 7 –Excellent performance, only a limited number of pigments give this level of light fastness even at full strength. It is tested under museum conditions. A dull climate will be very different to a desert exposure in Africa. Testing is typically done by controlled exposure to sunlight, or to artificial light generated by a xenon arc lamp. Very Low resistance. Each textile fade card features pieces of wool cloth dyed with blue dyes of different degrees of fastness which are used as light fastness standards. A standard Blue Wool textile fading test card is … Norfolk Average values for time as measured in the U.K for full strength ink is as follows :-. The scale consists of 8 different strips of wool, each dyed with a blue dye of differing lightfastness. Blue Wool Standards For light and weathering fastness testing, our Blue Wools are individually dyed wool pieces, each with a different degree of fastness to light. Very Low resistance. The full range of ISO blue references is currently available. The Blue Wool Lightfastness References were, and still are, aimed at those who work in the textile industry. Light fastness tests, using the Blue Wool scale as a reference, are carried out using a Xenon arc lamp as a light source. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information. Faber-Castell uses the Blue Wool standard to evaluate light-fastness. Blue Wool 4 –Up to 3 months. The Blue Wool Scale measures and calibrates the permanence of colouring dyes. "The Blue Wool Scale measures and calibrates the permanence/lightfastness of dyes and pigments Two identical dye/pigment samples are coated out then one is placed in the dark as the control and the other is placed in the equivalent of sunlight for 3 months. The ISO blue wools are each dyed with a different dye giving rise to a light fastness scale which is an approximate geometric progression, ranging from 1 to 8. The ink is then allocated that number on the Blue Wool Scale. The “Blue Wool Scale” is the internationally recognized method of quantifying lightfastness, defined under the British Standard BS1006. … On the "Blue Wool" scale, they range from 7 for yellows to 8 for oranges and reds. Direct comparisons of the Blue Wool Scale to the light fastness required to meet BS 5609 do not exist. Traditionally this test was developed for the textiles industry but it has now been adopted by the printing industry as a measure of "lightfastness" of ink colourants and also within the polymer industry for measurement of pigment & colour stability (lightfastness). Blue Wool 8 –Exceptional – virtually no fade. The typical conditions for ISO 105-B02 are: 42 W/m2 (300 – 400 nm)* 50°C BST; 40% effective humidity (use red azoic fabric to determine). The test simply compares which blue pigment fades at the same time as the ink sample on test. Basket: Some organizations publish standards for rating the lightfastness of pigments and materials. Good resistance. Click to ‘OK’, or continue browsing to accept all cookies. Two identical dye/pigment samples are coated out then one is placed in the dark as the control and the other is placed in the equivalent of sunlight for 3 months. Blue Wool Scale "The Blue Wool Scale measures and calibrates the permanence/lightfastness of dyes and pigments. Labels passing BS 5609 have light fastness values over Blue Wool 6. Light Fastness and Weather Resistance. A standard Blue Wool textile fading test card is also placed. The blue wool card allows you to monitor the net exposure to light given to objects on display and to alert conservators to adjust intensity of illumination. The scale consists of 8 different strips of wool, each dyed with a blue dye of differing lightfastness. The Blue Wool Scale measures and calibrates the permanence of colouring dyes. The “Blue Wool Scale” is the internationally recognized method of quantifying lightfastness, defined under the British Standard BS1006. The Blue Wool Scale measures and calibrates the permanence of colouring dyes. Watercolors, inks, pastels, and colored pencils are particularly susceptible to fading over time, so choosing lightfast pigments is especially important in these media. The light-fastness is indicated on each as follows: *** = Maximum light-fastness = 7,8 Blue Wool Scale ** = Very good light-fastness = 5, 6 Blue Wool Scale * = Good light-fastness = 3, 4 Blue Wool Scale Diss Hazard Warning Labels & Placards (Warning Diamonds), Limited Quantity & Environmentally Hazardous Labels, ADR Panels, ADR Plates, Hazchem Panels & Vehicle Marking, Dangerous Goods Notes & Dangerous Goods Declarations, Tactile Warning Labels (Tactile Triangles), Blue Wool Scale and the light-fastness of ink. Blue Wool 1 –A few days up to a week in dull conditions. Vinces Road JMB cadmium pigments, like all cadmium pigments, have excellent light-fastness throughout the whole range from yellow to deep maroon. The scale ranges from 8 (excellent – very low rate of fading) to 1 (very poor – extremely fast fading). High resistance. Moderate resistance. This standard utilizes eight scales to evaluate light-fast colors and it has been used for Artist paints for many years. Traditionally this test was developed for the textile industry, but it was later adopted by the printing industry as a measure of lightfastness for ink colourants. IP22 4HQ, Tel: +44(0) 1379 647400 The Blue Wool scale, of 1 to 8, uses samples of wool dyed with 8 different blue pigments each of which fade after different exposure times: 1 being the least resistant and 8 being the highest. These blue scale cards are manufactured in the UK exclusively for PEL to BS EN ISO 105-B08 which is the British and European standard for blue scale textile fading cards. We use cookies for essential functions and optimisation of this website. Light from the Xenon lamp has the nearest artificial wavelength distribution to that of the sun. Each textile fade card features pieces of wool cloth dyed with blue dyes of different degrees of fastness which are used as light fastness standards. Email: info@preservationequipment.com. Traditionally this test was developed for the textiles industry but it has now been adopted by the printing industry as a measure of "lightfastness" of ink colourants and also within the polymer industry for measurement of pigment & colour stability (lightfastness). In addition the film weight of the ink applied can make a difference, as does the degree of white pigment within a given formulation. The lightfastness is indicated by the grades on the Blue Wool Scale: BWS 1 = poor BWS 5 = good BWS 2 = low BWS 6 = very good BWS 3 = average BWS 7 = extremely good BWS 4 = rather good BWS 8 = excellent The lightfastness values which we guarantee for are indicated on the labels on our tins and are established by the assessment of proof prints. Generally the time the ink takes to fade depends where in the world you are. Textile fading cards test for effects of light on paintings, documents and textiles with blue indicating scales. Blue Wool 5 –Up to 6 months. Fax: +44(0) 1379 650582 The Blue Wool Scale measures and calibrates the permanence of colouring dyes.