Graded Card Display Without Fading: The UV Problem

Display fades cards. The question is how slowly.

The UV Reality

No display setup is UV-free. Even indirect light from a window or LED panel transmits UV-A in the 320–400nm range that fades card ink. The goal is slowing the fade enough that the card outlasts you.

The Acrylic Spec

Look for "UV-filtering acrylic" rated to block 98%+ of UV at 380nm. Cheap acrylic blocks 60–70% and lets enough through to fade ink visibly within a year. Museum-grade acrylic (Optix UV40 or similar) blocks 99%.

Lighting Choices

LEDs at 3000–4000K, ≥90 CRI — accurate color rendering, very low UV emission. Never halogens. Halogens emit UV and heat. Never direct sunlight, even for an hour a day.

Rotation

The professional move: rotate displayed cards quarterly. The displayed quarter goes back into the foam-fitted hard case in dark storage for nine months while another card takes the display slot.

No rotation? Expect visible fade on red and yellow ink within 3 years. With rotation and proper acrylic, displayed cards can last a generation.