Felt-Tipped Markers and the Need for Standards of Lightfastness for Artists' Colorants

Abstract

When artists' oil paints are purchased in America, few buyers may realize the significance of the words that appear on many tubes: Statement of contents as recommended by the American Artists Professional League. Conforms to all requirements of Commercial Standard CS98-42 issued by the National Bureau of Standards. Twenty-five-year-old Standard CS98-42 relates principally to the nomenclature, lightfastness, and tinting strength of artists' oil paints. R. J. Gettens was the first Chairman of the National Bureau of Standards' Standing Committee on CS98-42, and Ralph Mayer is the current Chairman. The original Standard may be read in the back of The Artist's Handbook, by Mr. Mayer. The revised Standard, CS98-62, may be purchased for 15 cents from the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 20402. Save for this document regarding oil paints, the artist today does not have a standard for lightfastness for pigments and dyestuffs used in other mediums.