An Enlightened Approach to Preserving the Past
See how the microfading tester helps conserve color in heritage objects
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Ever left something in the sun and noticed the colors fade?
While light helps us appreciate the beauty of cultural heritage objects, too much of it can cause their colors to deteriorate over time.
That’s why understanding an object’s sensitivity to light is essential for its care. One tool conservation professionals, including ours at the Getty Conservation Institute, use to do this is the microfading tester, or MFT.
The MFT shines a beam of light—smaller than the tip of a pencil and 10 times brighter than the midday sun—onto individual colors on an object’s surface while measuring color change with a spectrometer. Each test is stopped before any visible fading occurs, keeping the object safe.
This data helps predict how an object’s colors will respond to light, informing lighting policies that balance preservation with public access.
Used by heritage institutions around the world, the microfading tester has proven to be an important tool for preserving the past. Learn more in this animated video!
Are you a conservation or museum professional using MFT? Join the Microfading Tester International Discussion Group (MFT-IDG), a global network of heritage professionals dedicated to advancing MFT practice and interpretation. Launched in January 2025 with support from AIC’s Preventive Care Network, the MFT-IDG embraces conservators, conservation scientists, collection managers, curators, and registrars.
