Can certain light bulbs have a yellowing effect?

[mendokusai]

My fiance replaced the light bulbs in our bedroom/computer room with some energy saving ones, and it seems like since then a couple of my dolls have started yellowing more... but i don't know if i'm just happening to notice it a little more. i try to do my best to keep them out of direct sunlight as much as i can without just keeping them all in boxes... but my minisup (who is french resin) has definitely noticably yellowed :(

i also remember reading about somebody's misty blue BC elf yellowing considerably, when she never has sunlight in her room.

could the light bulb possibly have sped up the yellowing?

[nikita]

There are a number of factors that cause yellowing. I don't think the new bulbs your husband put in could be a reason as energy-saving ones tend to not give off any heat. Heat is one factor that can cause yellowing.

[mendokusai]

well that's good to know :) hmm although for the heat, i live in alaska... maybe it's just the sun that makes it through the curtains ._.a bleh! but it is a relief that it isn't the bulbs :D

[Mela]

It could also be the color of the bulbs - some bulbs (especially the energy saving ones) give off more of a yellow light. If you take the dolls outside or into another room, do they still look yellow?

[ginarolo]

I agree with Mela.

Different lights give off different hues. Your best bet to check the true color of your doll is natural daylight.

[mendokusai]

well, when we first got the bulbs, i walked past her and was like "OMG?!" but then took her into the hallway and realized it was just the lighting lol n_n;;

but i just got a limho a few days ago, and realized they are definitely different colors when they should be pretty close in color. then i took off her wig, and looked closely. i used UV cut MSC when i did her face-up, but normal MSC when i did her body... and her neck seems a lot more yellow than her head, and her face is still the same color as her headcap :( so she has definitely yellowed.

my main worry was that, while i have been careful to keep her out of the sun (or so i thought), it was all for naught if the lightbulbs were making her yellow too. but now i see the fault is entirely my own :sweat

although since her character is supposed to look a little spanish, she looks the part a little better now that she isn't very pale hehehe

[Mela]

It might also be that she's 'yellowed' because she's gotten dirty. Horrible as it seems, almost everyone I know picks up their dolls by the neck on occasion, and that area is rarely covered so it's more likely to have dirt and oils transferred from our hands and to get dirtier than say her legs or torso.

[saranilla]

If they are flourescent energy bulbs be careful. These are the greatest for energy saving, but they also do a lot of color damage. I know I work in printing and we have all flourescent and they lighten color just like the sun.

[Janne]

I've been keeping my dolls away from florescent light too, after noticing a little yellowing next to my Ott desklamp.

[St. James]

Flourescent lighting will yellow many types of plastics, including polyurethane. It can also cause brittleness in very thin plastics. Nasty nasty things, CFLs despite their energy saving qualities. I don't use them anywhere I keep my dolls.

[mendokusai]

eek!! hm i think they are florescent :( :( :(

[nikita]

How exactly does CFLs cause things to become brittle and yellow? I've never heard of this!

[Wickedgood]

Ack! I am careful to keep my dolls out of the sun, but the lamp on my desk has one of those energy-efficient fluorescent lightbulbs!! It would totally suck if I'm still doing damage despite my best efforts.

I swear, I should just get a big black curtained box for my dolls to reside in :cry

[blackpaperbag]

I remember asking this question before on DOA, ahh here it is (http://denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73487&highlight=lighting+bulbs)

Iroha gave a pretty good explaination to my question, but problem is I can't tell the difference between the bulbs and the salespeople in our lighting stores are utterly useless. "Low UV? euh...? @_@?"

[mendokusai]

thank you so much for the link!! i'll have to try and figure out what kind of bulbs these are, before my fiance decides to go through his plan to put them throughout the house o_o;;

[Hakari-chan]

You know, almost every bulb in my house is fluorescent, but at the same time they're also the "White Light" kinds, not the more yellow ones you commonly find. I wonder if they still do the same kind of damage though?
*removes her ws lishe and shushu from direct lamp light *
>__><__<

[kiradyn]

I don't know what bulbs are used in my room. :x I think they're fluorescent tubes, but I'm not sure if they're coated/uncoated/low-UV or whatever. Is there a way to tell (other than say, leaving a doll out to observe any yellowing effects) what kind they are by looks? Because...I don't even really know what brand bulbs they are. D: I'm better at fixing things than changing bulbs.

[nikita]

I got 2 responses from the makers of CFL bulbs:

N:Vision (http://www.nvisioncfl.com/default.aspx) - I happen to own one of their bulbs which is the daylight bulb. I spoke to customer service and asked them about the potential of their bulbs causing any kind of damage to plastics, vinyl or polyurethane resin.

Their response was that the bulbs aren't supposed to be damaging to anything in the household.

The customer service person insisted that anyone using their bulbs to please contact them at 1-800-378-6998.

------------------

GE/General Electric:

Hello JoAnn,

Thank you for contacting GE Lighting. I am happy to assist you.

Regular fluorescent light bulbs (linear or compact) used in your home and
office do not produce a hazardous amount of ultraviolet light (UV). Most
light sources, including fluorescent bulbs, emit a small amount of UV, but
the UV produced by fluorescent light bulbs is far less than the amount
produced by natural daylight.

Your safety is important to us; that's why, for all of our light bulbs
designed for general public use, we strive to minimize the amount of UV
light emitted.

We have no information on exactly "how" or "how much" the UV will affect
specific materials, dyes or resins. You would want to inquire with the
maker of the materials for that type of information. However, while we can
not make suggestions for specific applications, I am happy to share that
our covRguard products in the linear fluorescent line and our Diamond
Precise Halogen bulbs are both common for applications where UV fading
needs to be kept at a minimum. These products are not available in CFLs.

If you wish to discuss application specific details regarding these
products, or other products that may be available for your particular
need, we suggest contacting a lighting designer, lighting showroom, a
local museum, etc., who may be able to assist you further regarding your
specific application.

http://www.gelighting.com/na/

I hope this is helpful! Please let us know if we can be of further
assistance.

Sincerely,
Angi
GE Internet Response Team

I am going to continue to use my CFL bulbs, unless I see some hard evidence that someone's doll has turned yellow from the prolong use of CFL bulbs.

[blackpaperbag]

nikita: thanks for posting that, makes me feel a little less worried about my unknown bulbs ^^;;

[rattimoth]

I use 'cool daylight' flourescent bulbs in my house.. it means the light is always good for picture taking, and they don't put out near as much UV as others..

when you go looking for the energy saving bulbs, there are two kinds "warm white" which is YELLOW, and will probably have a yellow bulb graphic somehwere on it, and 'cool daylight' which is BLUE WHITE light, and will probably have a blue bulb graphic...

CHOOSE THE BLUE!

These are also great bulbs to put in your desklamps for face ups, photos, drawing.. any creative things.

Seek peace

Carol

[Mercy]

I don't want to call my friend out, but she realized that her doll kept yellowing and she was constantly resanding him. After awhile, she realized it was the flourescent lamp that she used in her aquarium that was causing the constant issues with her dolls. The moment she moved her dolls out of the room, he dolls no longer are yellowing. Crazy stuff.

[blackpaperbag]

I use 'cool daylight' flourescent bulbs in my house.. it means the light is always good for picture taking, and they don't put out near as much UV as others..

when you go looking for the energy saving bulbs, there are two kinds "warm white" which is YELLOW, and will probably have a yellow bulb graphic somehwere on it, and 'cool daylight' which is BLUE WHITE light, and will probably have a blue bulb graphic...

CHOOSE THE BLUE!

These are also great bulbs to put in your desklamps for face ups, photos, drawing.. any creative things.

Seek peace

Carol

I thought the warm light was safer, and the cool light was the 'high spectrum' one that supposedly emits more UV? *is confused* :cry

[nikita]

The cooler light produces UV rays but it's an extremely low percentage compared to the UV rays in natural sunlight. Obviously, manufacturers do not want to have a high UV rate produced in their bulbs as that would affect humans the same way natural UV rays from sunlight does. Does that make sense?

[blackpaperbag]

nikita: I don't know if that was directed at me, but I do know that the bulbs emit less UV rays than natural sunlight... If not we'd all have to wear sunblock at home XD

Though less, I'm sure the difference between various bulbs such as the 'yellow/warm' bulbs and 'white/cool' bulbs will affect the yellowing rate in the long run, so we might as well find the best sort of lighting to have our dolls under (especially if they sit around in the open all the time like mine do, no boxes for them)...

[hobbywhelmed]

The regular screw-in fluorescent bulbs definitely change the appearance of a normal-skin doll. I thought my MNF was getting paler, but it was just the color with those lights.

Re: UV. Ok, I have bearded dragons, so this is something I'm very familiar with, since they NEED UV light, being in glass tanks, inside a house, and I have to have a lightstrip with a special UV-producing bulb above each tank, besides the regular incandescent bulb (for heat) in its reflector. They make special fluorescent bulbs (strip type) to produce extra UV.

I have to keep those bulbs within 18 inches OR LESS of a perching place for the lizard, or he'll get NO UV energy. So, if your doll is further away than that, the chances for UV damage are virtually nil. In addition, the UV capability diminishes very fast as these specially produced bulbs age. I have to change bulbs every 6 months, otherwise they're the same as any fluorescent bulb, and of no use to the lizards (although I have a stock of replacement bulbs for the kitchen lighting strip that will last me through 2030).

So, I'd say with regular screw-in fluorescents, energy-savers, unless you're keeping your doll right under them, the change is just visual. And a certain amount of "aging" of the resin produces color changes in some brands too. I have an AOD normal in a box since I got it since I couldn't find a head match, and it seems to be shifting in tone from pink-white to a slightly warmer tone.

[branchuchan]

I have found that only really sunlight or hallogen bulbs work for me.

[Chops]

I have wondered about the lights and bjds. I know when I do a photoshoot, I turn on the lamps as little as possible. Sometimes I display my gang on a chest in my bedroom and I am always turning off the nearby lamps just in case the lighting has bad effect. Intense light and heat cannot be good in any amount.

[aikoe]

I'm always worried about fluorescents, so I keep all my dolls covered with shirts :o when I'm not doing anything with them. As much as companies may claim there's no real UV, I'm not so sure I trust them...

I'd be interested in the results of someone doing a headcap test, like people did with tan dolls a while back.

[Tonboko]

This whole debate kinda makes me glad I don't have a designated place to display my dolls.

A headcap test would be interesting... though if I left a headcap out, it quickly would become a cat toy and end up under the fridge, the stove, or the entertainment center.:sweat

[VinylFaerie]

I left some resin pieces (chopped off for mods and such) on my desk with my flourescent lamp on and it definitely makes a difference.

[aikoe]

I left some resin pieces (chopped off for mods and such) on my desk with my flourescent lamp on and it definitely makes a difference.

:wahwah

Would you mind taking some comparison pics??

[kitteh]

Wow, I had absolutely no idea fluorescents were damaging. Actually, I'd never given it much thought at all besides the obvious 'dolls should not sit by bulbs that are too hot'. Are the sunlight bulbs really okay? I would think they'd be as bad as real sunlight?

I'd also love to see a resin test with different types of exposure, seriously.

[VinylFaerie]

I'll try to get some pics soon to show the difference.

[beachgirl]

My dolls pretty much live in my sewing studio and all the lights there are flourescent including the screw in bulbs. Those are the "color corrected" ones (blue) and the overheads are whatever the electrician put in at the time (cheapest, I'm sure!). I haven't noticed any yellowing. I do know that where I pick them up gets to be a different color, so I'm sure that has to do with the oils in my hands. The windows in my house are the newer UV protective ones, so that may be helping to prevent changes.

[Malice Librarian]

Eeek, fluorescent lights yellow dolls?! And I've been trying so hard to keep them out of sunlight . . . I think I'm only going to bring out my boys when there's a full moon shining through my windows. O_O

[hobbywhelmed]

Eeek, fluorescent lights yellow dolls?! And I've been trying so hard to keep them out of sunlight . . . I think I'm only going to bring out my boys when there's a full moon shining through my windows. O_O

But -- don't you know about the terrible effects of moonlight? It makes their teeth grow long -- oh, wait, that WAS a vampire head you bought --

Ok, it makes wild hair grow all over them -- oh -- well, yeah, you'd better brush that long wig as soon as you find your brush---

Well, some day we'll set up a group trip to some cavern somewhere, and then it will be safe to take our dolls out -- oh, wait, the humidity in some caves is almost 100%?

We're doomed. Well, at least they can't wrinkle because of sunlight. That's my job.:cry

[Malice Librarian]

But -- don't you know about the terrible effects of moonlight? It makes their teeth grow long -- oh, wait, that WAS a vampire head you bought --

Ok, it makes wild hair grow all over them -- oh -- well, yeah, you'd better brush that long wig as soon as you find your brush---

Well, some day we'll set up a group trip to some cavern somewhere, and then it will be safe to take our dolls out -- oh, wait, the humidity in some caves is almost 100%?

We're doomed. Well, at least they can't wrinkle because of sunlight. That's my job.:cry

LOL! I hear ya on the wrinkling.

Actually it's the Gise head that I'm still saving up for. I currently have Arbor, who's "Herald of Werewolf", so maybe I should keep him out of moonlight as well . . . poor guy's gonna be stuck in the dark. XD

[SharonFish]

I thought the warm light was safer, and the cool light was the 'high spectrum' one that supposedly emits more UV? *is confused* :cry

I don't know anything for certain, but this would make more sense. UV one step higher than purple spectrum wise.

Also I would think that blue lights would put out more heat. Blue is a much hotter color physically than red. Never-mind all the artsy fartsy business about blue being a cool color, the physical temperature of blue light is higher. That is why sunlight is blue while incandescent light is orange-ish. The sun is much hotter than a light-bulb.

[hobbywhelmed]

But warm bulbs and cool, aka blue bulbs, and "daylight" bulbs are usually created by varying the coating on the inside of the glass bulb or tube, not by altering operating temperatures.

The only bulbs that are significantly hotter than normal are the Halogen bulbs. You can set fire to a curtain if a bit of it wafts into the open-top bowl of a pedestal halogen lamp. And while incandescent bulbs do get hot (we use them for heat sources for lizards), with the screw-in fluoresecent bulbs, it's the base that gets really hot, not the bulb. The base is where the ballast is. Even strip-lights that use flourescent bulbs have ballasts at one end or the other. The hot end!

[Gelfling]

Now I'm wondering about LED lights. These are even more energy saving than the fluorescents and apparently we're only a few years away from them being actually viable lights for your house....

[mendokusai]

bump for hopefully a little more information :?

[aisy]

It is the nature of resin to yellow, the new globes are probably showing it up you that they have. All resin yellows but the pigment added to colour the doll can often hide this. If UV protector is added to resin it can keep yellowing at bay for a bit longer.

[DragonHawk]

Just my thoughts.
Both of my hobbies conflict on this. I am an avid gardener inside and out of the house. When it comes to my inside plants, I provide them with artificial lighting using flourescent bulbs. So it's kinda like, if it helps your plants grow (which flourescent lighting does wonderfully) It's going to be bad for your doll because it gives off more UV rays. Light bulbs made specifically for plant growing are bad as well. And I don't think it matters if you get hot or cool bulbs (I use both), they are both going to have some sort of amount of UV rays in them.
Like I said.... just a thought. I'm going to keep my poor boy in the dark when he gets here because I have such lights rigged all over the place.

[nikita]

I wrote to Volks a while back and it's only now that they finally replied to my inquiry:

Dear JoAnn,

Thank you for your email and for your inquiry.

We are quite sorry for not replying sooner.

We do not have any scientific results of such a investigation on the damage
by CFL bulbs.
Therefore we can not give you any comments on this particular bulb case.
However the skin of Super Dollfie might be affected by various reasons such
as sunshine, humidity, temperature, machine heat, and so on.
If you are concerned on the skin damage of your SD, we recommend keeping
them in the cartoon box or carrying case, or keep your SD away from those
factors as possible as you can.

If the members of a BJD forum at http://abjds.com or anyone claims with the
authorized and concrete proof, data, results, please ask them to contact us.
Then we will discuss what we should do for our SDs.

We wish your kind understanding in advance.

Sincerely

VOLKS Web Site Service Center

VOLKS INC.
311 Tsuchiya-cho,
Inokuma-dori Takatsujiagaru,
Shimogyo-ku,
Kyoto
600-8936 Japan
Email; imos@volks.co.jp
URL; http://www.volks.co.jp/en/

[manaswam]

I put several of my dolls under the Christmas tree. As I was reading this thread just wondered whether lights from a Christmas tree could cause damage?

[animemadness]

interesting to read this thread i have always wondered if the lights in my bedroom were damaging my dolls,so the verdict is undecided on this one until more proof???