Artwork where protection from UV as a prime consideration

Watercolours – UV light will literally kill the artwork.

Old Photos & Posters – generally these are not colour fast and will fade quickly.

Tapestries – where dyes are used to colour the threads, these will again fade when exposed.

Organic substrates (such as textiles and paper) – UV light causes organic substrates to become brittle, rendering them beyond repair.

Sentimental items – any artwork, image or item that is produced on paper or fabric that the customer deems to be of sentimental value should be protected. This includes ‘little Johnnie’s’ first school painting!

Artwork where UV is not a consideration

Oil Paintings – this due to the fact that the oils have UV protection within the base make up of the paint.

Modern Photos/Prints – manufacturers are making progress within this area, producing light fast UV inks, and as such protection is not always required, however if you are in any doubt, add UV protection.

The only truly effective way to protect valuable artwork is to block out UV light, which could be done through the control of light coming into the building (such as that undertaken by museums) or to simply lock it away in a darkened cupboard or control the light by fitting UV protection during framing.

Interestingly enough, the plastic that was used some years ago in the old red telephone boxes offered a very effective way to handle UV, this was a plastic called ‘polycarbonate’, the downside however was that it did this through ‘absorption’, which is why after a short period of time the plastic went white and could no longer be seen through.

The three most common ways to achieve UV protection are:

Flat glass - Coatings applied to the surface of the glass, usually one side, however there are a few exceptions such as SCHOTT Mirogard Plus, which is coated on both sides. Coatings vary in quality and high UV ratings don’t always mean best viewing quality.  Wildwood Gallery recommends SCHOTT Mirogard plus. Follow the the link for further details. Schott Mirograd

Laminates - in the majority of cases UV protection is achieved by using a UV filtering plastic interlayer (PVB). This provides higher UV protection than that of coatings and is invisible to the eye, furthermore laminates provide greater protection for artwork in the event the glass should be broken, which is why these are the product of choice for high end museums and galleries.

Plastics - Similar to laminates, the UV protection is generally impregnated within the plastic during production, increasing UV rating and viewing quality. These are ideal when images are to be transported or placed in public areas. Wildwood Gallery recommends Artshield UV.

 

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