I Tested over 250 Paints in the Sun and the Results Are Shocking!
In January 2024, I taped 250 watercolor swatches from more than ten brands to a sunny window in Munich, Germany. They stayed there for seven months (a couple were added later as I cant help but buy more art supplies;))— through winter light, spring changes, and the full heat of summer.
In August, right before moving to the United States, I finally took them down.
And the results? Honestly, they shocked me.
Why I Did This Test
Every watercolor company tells us their paints are “lightfast” or “archival.” But what does that really mean for us as artists? Most of us don’t have laboratories, rating systems, or special tools like spectrometers.
I wanted to know what really happens in a simple, real-world setting: direct sunlight on a window. Because let’s face it — if a pigment fades enough for our eyes to notice, then anyone looking at your artwork will see it too.
So I set up my test:
One strip stayed in the dark as the control.
One strip went into direct sun.
A third was sprayed with UV protective spray by Schmincke (spoiler: it didn’t help).
Which Brands Faded the Most?
Here are the most surprising results:
Rockwell – I was heartbroken. Their website claims “excellent lightfastness,” but four colors (God’s Back, Morai-Witch, Magic Wizard, Lapis Brown) all faded badly. These are expensive paints, and to see them shift so much was disappointing.
Daniel Smith – Out of 68 swatches, only two showed visible fading: Opera Pink (well-known fugitive and they say so) and Moonglow (which lost its richness more than expected). The rest held up beautifully.
Coliro Pearl Colors – Gorgeous metallics from Germany, but Vibrant Yellow didnt survive. Vibrant Orange and Caribbean Green shifted slightly too.
Schmincke, Winsor & Newton, Holbein, QOR – Most pigments stayed stable! Great news!!! Except for the opera pink (Holbein) and Primary Red (W & N) gouache were fugitive.
Neons and inks – No surprise here: neons faded quickly. They’re fun for sketchbooks, but not for archival work.
Key Takeaways
UV Spray Doesn’t Stop Fading
I tried spraying some swatches with Schmincke’s UV spray. It sealed the surface but did nothing to prevent color loss.Not All Lightfast Ratings Match Reality
Labels that claimed “excellent” lightfastness didn’t always live up to it. Rockwell was the biggest disappointment here.Sometimes Fugitive Colors Are Still Worth It
I’ll still use Daniel Smith Moonglow because I love it. But I’ll use it in personal pieces, or I’ll frame it with museum-grade UV glass if it’s for sale.Do Your Own Swatch Test
Every artist’s palette is different. Even testing just a handful of your most-used paints will tell you more than a brand chart ever could.
Why This Matters
As artists, we can’t always control where our paintings end up. Some might stay in a drawer, others might be framed and hung in bright rooms. That’s why it matters to know which pigments will hold up.
This doesn’t mean we should avoid every fugitive pigment — sometimes the beauty of a color is worth the risk. But it does mean we should be intentional:
Save fugitive pigments for sketchbooks or personal work.
Disclose fading risks if selling.
Protect important works with UV-protective glass.
Final Thoughts
This test reminded me that our eyes are the best judge. If the fading is visible without fancy tools, that’s enough proof.
I’ll continue to use the pigments I love, even if some aren’t permanent — but I’ll do so consciously, and I’ll protect the works that matter.
👉 You can watch my full breakdown in this video:
https://youtu.be/zuA_H7gZ0a0
