Does anyone know what causes yellowing without sunlight?

[tharrington1114]

Hello, I have been collecting video games for years now and I have noticed that my Wii games paper artwork have turned an off white / yellow color (not the plastic case) and I have been wondering why? I store my games in a storage cabinet and closet in my room  that is temperature controlled away from sunlight and I don't smoke? None of my games have any warping or waviness but could moisture or heat still cause this? I really care for my games condition and want to prevent the yellowing to happen again.

Heres the link for a picture:

https://imgur.com/a/ltsjfhK

[redblaze57]

Any chance you can post some pictures of this?

[bizzgeburt]

I haven't witnessed this before on Wii games but what I do know is that temperature can make plastics colouring fade over time, as it is the case with many old consoles (e.g. SNES, Dreamcast,...)

Another factor many people don't consider are UV-rays ... those are scientifically known for altering plastic mixtures. I suggest maybe print colors also?  (UV-rays can still be present even when all visible parts of sunlight are blocked depending on the blocking materials UV resistency).

Does this affect ALL of your games in the same manner or does this effect differ perhaps because of time stored? If so, this could eventually be a general aging of the print itself ... 

[sworddude]

Hello, I have been collecting video games for years now and I have noticed that my Wii games paper artwork have turned an off white / yellow color (not the plastic case) and I have been wondering why? I store my games in a storage cabinet and closet in my room away from sunlight and I don't smoke? None of my games have any warping or waviness but could moisture or heat still cause this? I really care for my games condition and want to prevent the yellowing to happen again.

I've seen this happen with some, but it's mostly cause they painted said storage cabinet in which it affected the wii cases. otherwise it should not really happen from my knowledge

Perhaps oxygen lvl's or extreme temperature swings?

moisture is definitely bad though. so if you got issues with that. might be the culprit

maybe them games got super dusty in which the edges get dirty?

[sworddude]

Hello, I have been collecting video games for years now and I have noticed that my Wii games paper artwork have turned an off white / yellow color (not the plastic case) and I have been wondering why? I store my games in a storage cabinet and closet in my room  that is temperature controlled away from sunlight and I don't smoke? None of my games have any warping or waviness but could moisture or heat still cause this? I really care for my games condition and want to prevent the yellowing to happen again.

post some pictures on imgur and post em on the forum. Show us how bad this issue is. or if it's barely noticable.

[3pacalypse]

Yellowing is actually not caused by sunlight exactly.

Watch this video: https://youtu.be/8P1OVj0IcqY?si=Nf17oelzH7DCnt59

It will blow your mind.

[sworddude]

Yellowing is actually not caused by sunlight exactly.

Watch this video: https://youtu.be/8P1OVj0IcqY?si=Nf17oelzH7DCnt59

It will blow your mind.

I mean in terms of consoles such as the snes and Nes with them plastics I'd believe that for sure. can yellow withouth any sunlight. probably cause of the heat when used allot

in terms of cardboard and paper. it will turn white in full sun light. any reds and yellows will go extinct the fastest. I see far too many collectors having said collection in direct sunlight. allot of stuff gonna sunfaded quite a bit in just a a year or two. quite a waste.

[tharrington1114]

I've seen this happen with some, but it's mostly cause they painted said storage cabinet in which it affected the wii cases. otherwise it should not really happen from my knowledge

Perhaps oxygen lvl's or extreme temperature swings?

moisture is definitely bad though. so if you got issues with that. might be the culprit

maybe them games got super dusty in which the edges get dirty?
[/quote]

Heres a link for a picture. Its been stopping me from collecting lately because of the weird discoloration. Theres no warping or anything which is also weird if it was moisture.
https://imgur.com/a/ltsjfhK

[tharrington1114]

Hello, I have been collecting video games for years now and I have noticed that my Wii games paper artwork have turned an off white / yellow color (not the plastic case) and I have been wondering why? I store my games in a storage cabinet and closet in my room  that is temperature controlled away from sunlight and I don't smoke? None of my games have any warping or waviness but could moisture or heat still cause this? I really care for my games condition and want to prevent the yellowing to happen again.

post some pictures on imgur and post em on the forum. Show us how bad this issue is. or if it's barely noticable.

Here is a link for the photo sorry for the delay. Its been stopping me from collecting lately. Its most noticeable on my 3DS and Wii games. I'm unsure if its moisture or not as there isn't a single sign of warping of the paper or plastic. The plastic case is still bright white strangely. Only seems to be affecting the artwork.

https://imgur.com/a/ltsjfhK

[tharrington1114]

Hello, I have been collecting video games for years now and I have noticed that my Wii games paper artwork have turned an off white / yellow color (not the plastic case) and I have been wondering why? I store my games in a storage cabinet and closet in my room away from sunlight and I don't smoke? None of my games have any warping or waviness but could moisture or heat still cause this? I really care for my games condition and want to prevent the yellowing to happen again.

I've seen this happen with some, but it's mostly cause they painted said storage cabinet in which it affected the wii cases. otherwise it should not really happen from my knowledge

Perhaps oxygen lvl's or extreme temperature swings?

moisture is definitely bad though. so if you got issues with that. might be the culprit

maybe them games got super dusty in which the edges get dirty?

Heres a link for a picture. Its been stopping me from collecting lately because of the weird discoloration. Theres no warping or anything which is also weird if it was moisture.
https://imgur.com/a/ltsjfhK

[marvelvscapcom2]

Any intense heat in that cabinet? Maybe the glossy paper used on wii games has melted on the surface and caused color to shift. Thats my only guess. But alas im not sure   I've seen yellowing of all manner. And fading of print ink. Early on collecting I placed giant wool blankets over my windows. With the lights off they get minimal light at all. And they seem ok.


Idk how on earth that could happen in a dark closet. I'm also fairly sure moisture wouldn't cause it. no warping. No splits or creasing. If the moisture was exteme enough to soak the whole paper. Itd have to have done all of them as well as manuals. Warping. Ive seen white inserts as old as 10 to 30 yrs old with warping and little cracks from moisture.


Is it possible the games had that before you put them in there and you just didn't recall back then?


Also one thing I found out that mind blew me. Is that LED bulbs can cause fading. I always thought it was only sun. If you have an LED bulb close enough to games or cardboard. On constantly. It will fade the area somehow. Happened to some of my funko pops. Had them under a string rope light around my ceiling so they would glow from under. Pretty crazy. Happy I learned fast.


I reccomend moisture bags or a dehumidifier all together. Put some baking soda in the closet. Some silica packets in the cabinet and replace yearly. About 10 bucks for some on amazon.


Best of luck. Hopefully someone helps you find the culprit

[sworddude]

Hello, I have been collecting video games for years now and I have noticed that my Wii games paper artwork have turned an off white / yellow color (not the plastic case) and I have been wondering why? I store my games in a storage cabinet and closet in my room  that is temperature controlled away from sunlight and I don't smoke? None of my games have any warping or waviness but could moisture or heat still cause this? I really care for my games condition and want to prevent the yellowing to happen again.

post some pictures on imgur and post em on the forum. Show us how bad this issue is. or if it's barely noticable.

Here is a link for the photo sorry for the delay. Its been stopping me from collecting lately. Its most noticeable on my 3DS and Wii games. I'm unsure if its moisture or not as there isn't a single sign of warping of the paper or plastic. The plastic case is still bright white strangely. Only seems to be affecting the artwork.

https://imgur.com/a/ltsjfhK

that's quite noticable. I'm speculating decent heat and moisture combo. It's not normal I'll say that much. otherwise we'd be seeing this everywhere in the wild.

I personally only see it from fleamarket vendors that have their old stash that they carry around to multiple fleamarkets but even than quite rare. It's mainly sunfade as an issue.

and like Marvel said you using any led lights to display the collection or that closet dark?

also just to be sure it's not the plastic being dirty? I assume you already removed the art work from the cases to see if those actually turned yellow or not?

You can find some dirty ass wii cases, but if you remove the actual art work from the cases. the art work is still white

[bizzgeburt]

I guess all participants agree on white being a problematic choice for consoles/games/packaging as soon as you choose to try preserving it 

[sworddude]

I guess all participants agree on white being a problematic choice for consoles/games/packaging as soon as you choose to try preserving it 

White can easily get dirty, pretty fragile. Take that in combination with wii being a kid console and you got a recipe for disaster.

The amount of abuse wii games get is insane 

[puddingm]

oxygen / moisture / light in the house