Does autograph black ink fade faster than blue ink?

JWBlue · 10-30-2025, 11:46 PM

Read that a couple of places.

PSA2Pac · 11-02-2025, 01:34 AM

Ehh.. tbh they’ll both fade if exposed to a lot of light (especially natural light)

I have autographs from the 90s in both black and blue and the stuff that’s been tucked away doesn’t have any fading

The autographs I had hanging on my wall or out in general have various levels of fading

fabiani12333 · 11-02-2025, 06:39 AM

Lighter color inks fade sooner from light exposure. Blue ink darkens before fading. This was one of the earliest lessons I learned about autograph cards when I got back into the hobby.

fabiani12333 · 11-02-2025, 06:42 AM

There are also certain pen inks that fade naturally over time without light exposure.

aggie4ever · 11-02-2025, 10:42 AM

A couple of things going on here.

For a lot of the early UD autos, they were signed in blue ink. As it fades, it often turns black. So yes, those black ink autos will seem to fade quicker, but that's because they have already faded from blue to black.

Black often fades to grey or red or brown, so that is noticeable. Blue usually either fades to black or to a lighter shade of blue. So it is less noticeable. It may be the same amount of fading, but it's not as noticeable. That is especially evident on ballpoint signed baseballs.

Now if you're talking Sharpie signed photos, I think it's been shown that black ink autos hold up better than blue.

PuddleMonkey · 11-07-2025, 12:47 AM

Read it and weep, dorks. Left side not exposed to light for 8 months, right side put up in a window for 8 months. Black reigns supreme.

JWBlue · 11-07-2025, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

Read it and weep, dorks. Left side not exposed to light for 8 months, right side put up in a window for 8 months. Black reigns supreme.

I am not surprised what people say is different from the evidence.

10-30-2025, 11:46 PM	#1
JWBlue Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 9,691	Does autograph black ink fade faster than blue ink? Read that a couple of places. __________________ Hobby favorites : Redemptions, Black /1 cards, Baseball : Topps flagship

11-02-2025, 01:34 AM	#2
PSA2Pac Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 3,893	Ehh.. tbh they’ll both fade if exposed to a lot of light (especially natural light) I have autographs from the 90s in both black and blue and the stuff that’s been tucked away doesn’t have any fading The autographs I had hanging on my wall or out in general have various levels of fading

11-02-2025, 06:39 AM	#3
fabiani12333 Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 12,288	Lighter color inks fade sooner from light exposure. Blue ink darkens before fading. This was one of the earliest lessons I learned about autograph cards when I got back into the hobby.

11-02-2025, 06:42 AM	#4
fabiani12333 Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 12,288	There are also certain pen inks that fade naturally over time without light exposure.

11-02-2025, 10:42 AM	#5
aggie4ever Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 6,800 aggie4ever	A couple of things going on here. For a lot of the early UD autos, they were signed in blue ink. As it fades, it often turns black. So yes, those black ink autos will seem to fade quicker, but that's because they have already faded from blue to black. Black often fades to grey or red or brown, so that is noticeable. Blue usually either fades to black or to a lighter shade of blue. So it is less noticeable. It may be the same amount of fading, but it's not as noticeable. That is especially evident on ballpoint signed baseballs. Now if you're talking Sharpie signed photos, I think it's been shown that black ink autos hold up better than blue.

11-07-2025, 12:47 AM	#6
PuddleMonkey Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 4,294	Read it and weep, dorks. Left side not exposed to light for 8 months, right side put up in a window for 8 months. Black reigns supreme.