ASTM D4303-10

Standard Test Methods for Lightfastness of Colorants Used in Artists' Materials

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The retention of chromatic properties by a colorant over a long period of years is essential in a work of art. Accelerated exposure simulates color changes that may reasonably be expected. The producer and the user of artists' materials, therefore, can be apprised of suitable colorants.  
Variations in results may be expected between the test methods. Also, some variation may be expected when the same test is repeated. Variations in Methods A and B are due to differences in outdoor conditions that are not accounted for in testing to equivalent radiant exposures. Information on sources of variability and strategies for addressing variability in laboratory accelerated exposure tests is found in Guide G141.
This standard does not cover factors other than lightfastness that can affect the permanence of art materials.
SCOPE
1.1 Four test methods to accelerate the effects of long term indoor illumination on artists' materials are described below. One of the natural daylight methods and one of the xenon-arc methods are used to categorize the lightfastness of colorants.
1.1.1 Test Method A—Exposure in southern Florida to natural daylight filtered through window glass.
1.1.2 Test Method B—Exposure in Arizona to natural daylight filtered through window glass.
1.1.3 Test Method C—Exposure in a non-humidity controlled xenon-arc device simulating daylight filtered through window glass.
1.1.4 Test Method D—Exposure in a humidity controlled xenon-arc device simulating daylight filtered through window glass.
1.2 These test methods are used to approximate the color change that can be expected over time in colorants used in artists' materials exposed indoors to daylight through window glass.
Note 1—The color changes that result from accelerated exposure may not duplicate the results of normal indoor exposure in a home, art gallery, or museum. The relative resistance to change, however, can be established so colored materials can be assigned to categories of relative lightfastness.  
Note 2—Users who wish to test colored materials under fluorescent illumination should consult Practice D4674.
1.3 Lightfastness categories are established to which colorants are assigned based on the color difference between specimens before and after exposure.
1.4 Color difference units are calculated by the CIE 1976 L*a*b* color difference equation.
1.5 These test methods apply to colored artists' materials.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2010
• ICS: 87.060.10 - Pigments and extenders
• Technical Committee: D01 - Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications
• Drafting Committee: D01.57 - Artist Paints and Related Materials

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4303-06 - Standard Test Methods for Lightfastness of Colorants Used in Artists' Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2010
• Referred By: ASTM D5098-16(2021) - Standard Specification for Artists' Acrylic Dispersion Paints
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2010
• Referred By: ASTM D5383-16(2021) - Standard Practice for Visual Determination of the Lightfastness of Art Materials by Artists and Art Technologists
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2010
• Referred By: ASTM D5067-16(2021) - Standard Specification for Artists' Watercolor Paints
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2010
• Referred By: ASTM D8330-20 - Standard Specification for Artists’ Pastels
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2010
• Referred By: ASTM D5724-16(2021) - Standard Specification for Gouache Paints
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2010
• Referred By: ASTM D6901-15(2021) - Standard Specification for Artists' Colored Pencils
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2010
• Referred By: ASTM D4302-14(2021) - Standard Specification for Artists’ Oil, Resin-Oil, and Alkyd Paints
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2010
• Referred By: ASTM G24-21 - Standard Practice for Conducting Exposures to Daylight Filtered Through Glass
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2010

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D4303 − 10
StandardTest Methods for
1
Lightfastness of Colorants Used in Artists’ Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4303; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and
health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
1.1 Four test methods to accelerate the effects of long term
limitations prior to use.
indoor illumination on artists’ materials are described below.
One of the natural daylight methods and one of the xenon-arc
2. Referenced Documents
methods are used to categorize the lightfastness of colorants.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1.1 Test Method A—Exposure in southern Florida to
D2244 Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and
natural daylight filtered through window glass.
Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color
1.1.2 Test Method B—Exposure in Arizona to natural day-
Coordinates
light filtered through window glass.
D4302 Specification for Artists’ Oil, Resin-Oil, and Alkyd
1.1.3 Test Method C—Exposure in a non-humidity con-
Paints
trolled xenon-arc device simulating daylight filtered through
D4674 PracticeforAcceleratedTestingforColorStabilityof
window glass.
Plastics Exposed to Indoor Office Environments
1.1.4 Test Method D—Exposure in a humidity controlled
D5067 Specification for Artists’ Watercolor Paints
xenon-arc device simulating daylight filtered through window
D5098 Specification for Artists’Acrylic Dispersion Paints
glass.
D5724 Specification for Gouache Paints
1.2 These test methods are used to approximate the color
D6901 Specification for Artists’ Colored Pencils
change that can be expected over time in colorants used in
E284 Terminology of Appearance
artists’ materials exposed indoors to daylight through window
E1347 Test Method for Color and Color-Difference Mea-
glass.
surement by Tristimulus Colorimetry
NOTE 1—The color changes that result from accelerated exposure may E1348 Test Method for Transmittance and Color by Spec-
not duplicate the results of normal indoor exposure in a home, art gallery,
trophotometry Using Hemispherical Geometry
or museum.The relative resistance to change, however, can be established
E1349 Test Method for Reflectance Factor and Color by
so colored materials can be assigned to categories of relative lightfastness.
Spectrophotometry Using Bidirectional (45°:0° or 0°:45°)
NOTE 2—Users who wish to test colored materials under fluorescent
Geometry
illumination should consult Practice D4674.
G24 Practice for Conducting Exposures to Daylight Filtered
1.3 Lightfastness categories are established to which colo-
Through Glass
rants are assigned based on the color difference between
G113 Terminology Relating to Natural andArtificial Weath-
specimens before and after exposure.
ering Tests of Nonmetallic Materials
1.4 Color difference units are calculated by the CIE 1976
G141 Guide for Addressing Variability in Exposure Testing
L*a*b* color difference equation.
of Nonmetallic Materials
G151 Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials inAccel-
1.5 These test methods apply to colored artists’ materials.
erated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
G155 Practice for Operating XenonArc LightApparatus for
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
Exposure of Non-Metallic Materials
only.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address the safety
3. Terminology
concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
3.1 Definitions—Appearance terms used in these test meth-
ods are defined inTerminology E284.Terms relating to natural
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on
Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and are the direct
2
responsibility of Subcommittee D01.57 on Artist Paints and Related Materials. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved June 1, 2010. Published June 2010. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as D4303 – 06. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D4303-10. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D4303 − 10
and artificial lightfastness tests are defined in Terminology 7. Procedure
G113.
7.1 Prepare seven spe
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:D4303–06 Designation:D4303–10
Standard Test Methods for
1
Lightfastness of Colorants Used in Artists’ Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4303; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 Four test methods to accelerate the effects of long term indoor illumination on artists’ materials are described below. One
of the natural daylight methods and one of the xenon-arc methods are used to categorize the lightfastness of colorants.
1.1.1 Test Method A—Exposure in southern Florida to natural daylight filtered through window glass.
1.1.2 Test Method B—Exposure in Arizona to natural daylight filtered through window glass.
1.1.3 Test Method C—Exposure in a non-humidity controlled xenon-arc device simulating daylight filtered through window
glass.
1.1.4 Test Method D—Exposure in a humidity controlled xenon-arc device simulating daylight filtered through window glass.
1.2 These test methods are used to approximate the color change that can be expected over time in colorants used in artists’
materials exposed indoors to daylight through window glass.
NOTE 1—The color changes that result from accelerated exposure may not duplicate the results of normal indoor exposure in a home, art gallery, or
museum. The relative resistance to change, however, can be established so colored materials can be assigned to categories of relative lightfastness.
NOTE 2—Users who wish to test colored materials under fluorescent illumination should consult Practice D4674.
1.3 Lightfastness categories are established to which colorants are assigned based on the color difference between specimens
before and after exposure.
1.4 Color difference units are calculated by the CIE 1976 L*a*b* color difference equation.
1.5 These test methods apply to colored artists’ materials.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the
user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations
prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D2244 Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates
D4302 Specification for Artists’ Oil, Resin-Oil, and Alkyd Paints
D4674 Practice for Accelerated Testing for Color Stability of Plastics Exposed to Indoor Office Environments
D5067 Specification for Artists’ Watercolor Paints
D5098 Specification for Artists’ Acrylic Dispersion Paints
D5724 Specification for Gouache Paints
D6901 Specification for Artists’ Colored Pencils
E284 Terminology of Appearance
E1347 Test Method for Color and Color-Difference Measurement by Tristimulus Colorimetry
E1348 Test Method for Transmittance and Color by Spectrophotometry Using Hemispherical Geometry
E1349 Test Method for Reflectance Factor and Color by Spectrophotometry Using Bidirectional (45:0 or 0:45) Geometry
G24 Practice for Conducting Exposures to Daylight Filtered Through Glass
G113 Terminology Relating to Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests of Nonmetallic Materials
G141 Guide for Addressing Variability in Exposure Testing of Nonmetallic Materials
G151 Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials in Accelerated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and are the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D01.57 on Artist Paints and Related Materials.
Current edition approved JulyJune 1, 2006.2010. Published July 2006.June 2010. Originally approved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 20032006 as
D4303 – 036. DOI: 10.1520/D4303-106.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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D4303–10
G155 Practi
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