Blue Scales (Textile Fading Cards)

These cards are used to understand the intensity of light in a location, and provide an physical example of the worst case scenario of how an art object placed in this location could fade over a period of time.  Used as light fastness standards, to monitor the net exposure to light of art objects on display, and to alert conservators to rotate an exhibit or to reduce the intensity of illumination.

Eight pieces of wool cloth tinted with blue dyes of different degrees of fastness mounted on a 5" x 1.5" card. 

These cards conform to the following standards:
ISO 105-B01    &    ISO 105-B02
IUF 401    &    IUF 402

Material composition of the strips is as follows:
Reference 1, Acid Blue 104 
Reference 2, Acid Blue 109
Reference 3, Acid Blue 83
Reference 4, Acid Blue 121
Reference 5, Acid Blue 47
Reference 6, Acid Blue 23
Reference 7, Solubilized Vat Blue 5
Reference 8, Solubilized Vat Blue 8