How exactly do camera flashes damage paintings?

Question

(In museums and such.) The more detail the better. For example, what frequency of the flash from the light damages it (over time?)

-Why do flashes damage them more than the lights overhead?

-Exactly what kind of damage is done to the painting?

-Are certain colors affected more than others?

Answer 1

i do not believe they do -

i think the real reason they are outlawed is so that only sets of prints can be purchased by museum or other owner of the painting, and that preventing close up photos out in teh public would enhance the rates of fakes out there.

Answer 2

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Do_camera_flas...

Answer 3

It is a matter of photo synthesis.

Museums have special lighting to prevent any photo synthesis from taking place. They even have special glass or coating on them to stop damaging sunlight from entering the building.

It isn't so much that a flash will damage a painting noticeably but over hundreds of years you are talking millions upon millions of flashes just alone for a painting like the Mona Lisa.

Yes they are thinking in terms like that. Millions of flashes over a few centuries. That kind of exposure WILL damage the painting.

Blues are about the only pigments that don't feel much light damage. Red is fast to fade and most white will go yellow or brown. Primarily this is what happens to older varnish too. exposure to light will make it go a muddy brown.  

Answer 4

the light will fade colors. flashes from cameras are very bright lights as you would know. the lights around are probably alot dimmer. not sure about what colors would be affected more then others. i guess it depends on the material used like paint, ink, pastel, charcoal, ect.