can sunlight ruin the coloring on anime figures

Is sunlight harmful to your collectibles?

The main culprit is ultraviolet light. Not only can UV light be hazardous to your health, but as you can see, it can also be hazardous to your collection. Sunlight is responsible for not just the degradation of action figures, but pictures, painting, old electronics, and various other collectibles.

How do I protect my anime collection from UV light?

If you store your collection in a display case, apply UV protection film on a case and dust off your collection often. You should use UV protection film on a case even when the case is away from direct sunlight because some fluorescent lamps also make UV rays. Your anime figure should be placed in comfortable temperature throughout a year.

Why do action figures change color over time?

Answer: Photodegradation (from exposure to UV rays) and thermal oxidation (from exposure to the air) cause certain plastic mixes to change color over time. Something you’ve probably noticed is that certain action figures of yours that were once white have changed over the years to a shade of yellow—bordering on brown.

How does the sun affect a figure’s yellowing?

Obviously the sun had its effect during those years of the figure being on display; this is apparent by the uneven distribution of the yellowing. But what about the years following—when the figure was no longer on display, yet somehow, the yellowing continued. How did the degradation continue even after the figure was stored away?

Can sunlight damage anime figures?

It can definitely damage your stuff. You best bet is to leave them in complete darkness.

How do you fix sun damaged figures?

2:596:52Cheap and easy De-yellowing Star wars figures - Toy Polloi - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo I do have a second bottle of hydrogen peroxide here just to top it. Up. So here we go. And youMoreSo I do have a second bottle of hydrogen peroxide here just to top it. Up. So here we go. And you just enough to cover all of the figures. Right.

Do anime figures fade?

Keep your figurines displayed out of natural lighting. Sunlight can cause your figurines' colors to fade or become spotty. Avoid placing your figurines under windows where natural light pours through.

How do you keep anime figures in good condition?

Your figures should always be stored in a room temperature, dry space that is out of direct sunlight, and they should be dusted and cleaned regularly. For added protection, you can even purchase special action figure storage solutions.

Can anime figures melt?

Heat and sunlight are the primary enemies of anime figures. Most anime figures are made of PVC plastic and they bend and melt when exposed to extreme heat. However, if you have a pretty good cooling system, then putting a figure in your PC should not be a problem. You don't even need liquid cooling.

How do you remove yellowing from figures?

Put your figures in the jar and fill it with the peroxide until the toys are submerged. Secure the lid. Now the important part: place the jar in a safe, sunlit spot for about 24 hours. Sunlight is the key as the UV light will activate the peroxide and draw the yellow out of the plastic.

How do you clean dirty anime figures?

Use water or dishwashing liquid to help wash off any stains that a simple wipe can't remove. If there are any stains in hard to reach places, use the Q-tips. Use your second piece of microfiber cloth to pat dry your figure. If you use water for cleaning, it may leave water stains if you let it dry by itself.

What is a bootleg figure?

Simply put, a bootleg is a figure that does not have any proper licensing or approval. Generally, bootlegs are copycats (normally of lesser quality) of actual, licensed figures which are sold to collectors or vendors under the guise of the legitimate figure.

What is indirect sunlight?

Indirect sunlight occurs when something in the path of light from the sun diffuses or filters the sunlight before it hits your plants. Examples include sheer curtains, a piece of furniture, a tree outside your window, or even another indoor plant placed in front to protect the lower-light plant.

Should I open my anime figure?

Yes, Unbox Your Figures Besides, even unboxed, anime figures don't lose much value as long as you keep them in good condition. My personal opinion is that you should always unbox them and that's because I buy figures as an avid collector.

Does cold affect action figures?

As long as you wrap them in cloth and put them in plastic containers or even cardboard boxes they should be fine. You can always try putting a plastic container up there and see if it melts. Ya' cool is definitely prefered but insulated and dark should work especially for loose toys.

Should you open your figures?

There is no guideline or rule that action figures and collectibles need to be boxed or unboxed. It's entirely up to the person's preference.

What to expect in PVC figure care?

Anime PVC figures are made from synthetic resin and paints. Both materials can show signs of aging when exposed in uncontrolled environment for long time. Knowing sources of wear and prevent them from changing your figure’s condition is the best thing to do.

What to protect your figures from?

Sun light Ultraviolet rays in sun light can make paints to fade. Keep your anime PVC figures away from direct sunlight as much as possible.

Caring Tips

Store your figures in a place where no direct sunlight hit. If you store your collection in a display case, apply UV protection film on a case and dust off your collection often. You should use UV protection film on a case even when the case is away from direct sunlight because some fluorescent lamps also make UV rays.

Enjoying Your Anime Figures

Although caring your anime PVC figures well can make their life last longer than not maintaining them, you should not be too nervous about cause of deterioration. You must be careful not to expose your collections to high temperature, but otherwise do a quick check-up on them and enjoy your PVC figures the rest of the time.

Why Do I Need to Care for My Figures?

The materials that action figures are made from are far from indestructible, and can, over time, show signs of aging. Paint can chip or rub off; the plastic can become discolored, or dirt, grime, and dust can build up.

Why do my figures crack?

Heat and sunlight can cause the plastic bubble that encases the figure (called a "blister") to become extremely brittle which can lead to cracking. Also, heat and sunlight can cause the glue that holds the blister to the cardboard backing (called the "card") to loosen, making the blister fall right off of the card and now your figures can be ...

How to store figures in boxes?

If you're storing your figures in boxes, use sturdy plastic storage containers with lids that seal on to help keep out excess humidity. Consider sealing each figure in its zip-lock plastic bag before they're put into the container. Cardboard boxes are not ideal for storage as they let in heat and humidity as well as often contain acids that over time can destroy plastics and discolor paint.

Why are my action figures so soft?

Humidity: High humidity can cause the paint on the action figures to peel and chip, and can also cause decals to fall off and joints to loosen, causing your figures to have a hard time maintaining their poses.

How long has Reis been collecting action figures?

How to Care for Your Action Figure Collection. Reis is a freelance writer who has been collecting action figures for over 30 years, starting with a 1978 Darth Vader action figure. Taking good care of your action figure collection is easy.

How to clean a figure?

If they do get dirty, most figures can be cleaned by letting them soak in warm soapy water and scrubbing gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Dust can be easily removed with a can of air-propelled dust remover like you'd use on computer equipment and keyboards.

What causes grime on a figure?

Dirt and dust: Dirt and natural oils from your fingers can cause a grimy buildup on your figures if handled too much. Dust, while not harmful to the figure, can build up and make for a less than pleasing display.

What is UV filtering acrylic?

Optix UV-Filtering Acrylic is a lightweight, shatter-resistant material that can be used instead of glass in your picture frames. Each sheet filters out 98% of UV rays to protect your artwork from harmful ultraviolet light that can fade your images over time.

What is UV filtering?

UV Filtering Materials – used to filter the ultraviolet (UV) rays out of visible light. Removing UV radiation from storage and display areas can reduce the rate of deterioration of stored or exhibited objects and artifacts.

How to preserve a faded black and white photo?

To remedy what ails the faded vintage black and white photograph, it would be best to take it to a reputable photo restoration lab to have it scanned, color and density adjusted, and reprinted for framing or for the family archive. Store the original in a high-quality archival print storage kit, or perhaps in a 3-ring print page in a well-made archival binder.

How to store old books?

To archivally store old books place them in an appropriately-sized polyethylene bag and then into an acid-free storage box.

What is gallery 12?

Gallery 12 wood frames are a great do-it-yourself way to professionally – yet economically – protect your artworks and framed artifacts from light damage.

What is the best storage condition for artifacts?

Absolute darkness is the best storage condition for an artifact, but that is not always possible or desirable. There are things you can do to minimize light damage to your art and artifacts. It’s important to have a general understanding of both the dangers of light damage and the easy, do-it-yourself solutions that are available.

What happens if you use too much light?

Yet too much light—or the “wrong kind” of light—will result in light damage that will hasten the fading, discoloration or even the destruction of practically ALL artworks, photographs, works on paper, books, fabrics, documents, ...

What to use to clean paint off of a figure?

A brand new one works best as it will be free of toothpaste residue, which can be abrasive and cause the paint to scratch off of the figure. You'll also need some liquid soap, such as hand soap or dishwashing liquid that does not contain any moisturizers.

How to clean a toothbrush that is still wet?

Scrub, Scrub, Scrub! Put a small amount of soap on the toothbrush, just a small drop, and begin to give the figure, still wet from its soak, a gentle scrubbing. Do not use too much pressure, just enough to clean off the dirt and grime.

How to tell if a figure is a problem?

Notice how figures tend to get a lot of grime in and around their joints. Also, look for any problem areas, such as an old glob of peanut butter or a line of crayon.

How to store action figures?

Store the figure on its towel in a safe place , out of direct sunlight (sunlight may help dry your hair, but it can destroy an action figure) and preferably where it won't get too dusty.

How to get paint off a figure?

With a paper towel, gently pat down the figure, soaking up as much of the excess water as you can. You want to be careful not to rub with the paper towel as this is just needless wear and tear on your figure's paint job, as some paper towels can be a little abrasive.

What does "played with condition" mean?

Figures in "played with condition" mean that they have seen an adventurous life, usually in the hands of a young child, so you never know what you'll find.

What do you need to make a plastic figure?

The first thing you'll need is a bowl of warm (not hot!) water. Hot water can cause the plastic to soften and become misshapen; lukewarm water will do just fine. The bowl should be large enough to completely submerge the figure.

Why Do Certain Figures Turn Yellow and Others Don’t?

While its difficult to give an exact answer pertaining to action figures specifically, the question has been explored in detail regarding old gaming systems. In this article from Vintage Computing and Gaming, the writer goes into detail about what he found while researching the effects on his old Super Nintendo (SNES) console. One console turned yellow over the years, and the other did not. After consulting with some experts, he found that the plastic making up certain SNES cases was composed of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). ABS is combustible, but cheap so manufacturers use it to save money. To deal with the combustibility of ABS, they include flame retardants in the plastic mixture. One of the chemicals that is used frequently is Bromine. Bromine reacts with the UV rays and oxygen in the air. A chemical reaction starts and continues indefinitely until the console case has changed color. This is just a short summary of the process. I highly recommend reading the whole thing here www.vintagecomputing.com.

What is the chemical reaction between UV light and plastic?

Sunlight is responsible for not just the degradation of action figures, but pictures, painting, old electronics, and various other collectibles. There is a chemical reaction between the UV rays and certain chemicals in the plastic mix. This chemical reaction between the UV light and a chemical in the plastic called Bromine (more on this later) ...

Why do plastics change color?

Answer: Photodegradation (from exposure to UV rays) and thermal oxidation (from exposure to the air) cause certain plastic mixes to change color over time. Something you’ve probably noticed is that certain action figures of yours that were once white have changed over the years to a shade of yellow—bordering on brown.

How to prevent action figures from yellowing?

In short, there is no way to completely prevent your action figures from yellowing if the plastic mixture used is predisposed to it happening; however, you can take preventative measures that will significantly delay the inevitable. 1. Keep Your Figures Out of Direct Sunlight.

Why are LEDs low in UV light?

This is due to the ultraviolet light being converted to white light by the phosphers in the LED bulbs.

How to reverse yellowing action figures?

The most common treatment for yellowing action figures is done by using hydrogen peroxide. Simply place your action figure (s) in a clear glass jar and then fill the jar with hydrogen peroxide. Now place the jar in the sun and let it sit for a period of days.

How long should you let a jar of hydrogen peroxide sit?

Now place the jar in the sun and let it sit for a period of days. The length of time may depend on the concentration of hydrogen peroxide used. Once you determine that its time to take them out, wash them off well to get off all of the peroxide as it will leave a white residue on the figures otherwise.