<p>Paper will yellow over time <a href="https://crafts.stackexchange.com/q/528/30">because of lignin in the pulped wood</a>.</p>
<p>Choosing an archival, acid-free fixative means that <em>the fixative itself</em> should not yellow over time. Unfortunately, the primary purpose of the <strong>fixative</strong> is to prevent smudging of the media that is on your paper. While it can <em>slow down</em> paper yellowing over time (by reducing the surface area of the paper that is exposed to air), it doesn't neutralize those oxidizing chemicals.</p>
<p>There are <a href="https://crafts.stackexchange.com/a/2011/30">ways to treat the paper</a> to prevent the yellowing from getting worse, and you can also put it behind UV-blocking glass to protect it from further oxidization due to air and light. However, the current yellowing may not be reversible.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-26T02:27:35.367Z
It was the sunlight then 
Isaac750
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-11-29T18:37:31.893Z
BUMP.  It could also be what the paper is mounted on/adjacent to or even what is floating in the air (cigarette smoke for example).
rebusB
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-25T23:16:23.293Z
2021-02-25T23:58:16.650Z
2021-02-25T23:58:16.650Z
Erica
<p>Apparently, my (acid-free) paper (from 'SoHo Studio'; shown below) is yellowing, I have <a href="https://www.walmart.com/grocery/ip/Krylon-Workable-Fixatif-Spray-Coating-11-oz/20683596?wmlspartner=wlpa&amp;selectedSellerId=0&amp;wl13=807&amp;&amp;adid=22222222227017872817&amp;wl0=&amp;wl1=g&amp;wl2=c&amp;wl3=40941733712&amp;wl4=pla-78879485912&amp;wl5=9027304&amp;wl6=&amp;wl7=&amp;wl8=&amp;wl9=pla&amp;wl10=120643079&amp;wl11=local&amp;wl12=20683596&amp;veh=sem&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAj9iBBhCJARIsAE9qRtDx4r76jbxQ4l7KLKfYqBcQwHnNidqvvFyohFXcurbtIT30FltT8pIaArYnEALw_wcB" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Krylon Workable Fixatif Spray Coating</a>.</p>
<p>Obviously, fixatives prevent this issue to happen, what should I do?
Is there anything special I should do to my paper?
I don't think you can see the yellowing, but just trust me, it is yellow</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/1ImXt.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/1ImXt.jpg" alt="" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-25T04:19:03.437Z
cool drawing isn't it?
Isaac750
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-25T04:39:21.987Z
I've never had/heard issues with Krylon. Wondering maybe if it is an aging issue related to the age of the can itself. With quality control, and Walmart, it is hard to say how long an item was sitting on the shelf.
Lyssagal
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-25T07:37:06.330Z
The fixative, itself, isn't supposed to yellow, but it doesn't prevent the paper from yellowing.
fixer1234
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-25T16:45:39.423Z
@Lyssagal, haha, nope, none of that, the can isn't even a year old. It could be true about how long the can was on the shelf though, but I don't think they allow the con to be there for a long period of time, however, fixative sprays last more than one year
Isaac750
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-25T16:49:50.550Z
@fixer1234, that's one of the primary porpuses of a fixative, isn't it?
Isaac750
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-25T17:54:05.343Z
@Isaac750, that isn't the purpose of a fixative.  There are some treatments that are supposed to minimize the oxidation of the paper to slow or stop it from yellowing.  The fixative is only supposed to not yellow, itself, or add acidity that would accelerate the paper's yellowing.  The fixative's purpose is to help bond stuff to the paper.
fixer1234
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-25T18:52:10.167Z
@fixer1234, well yea, but as you said, the fixative is also supposed to prevent from yellowing, its been just a few months since I sprayed it, this isn't suppose to happen
Isaac750
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-26T14:47:00.803Z
@Isaac750, that's the opposite of what fixer1234 said. The fixative does nothing for yellowing one way or the other.
Allison C
<paper><preservation><charcoal><fixative>
Paper's preservation (fixative not working)
Isaac750
# Paper's preservation (fixative not working)

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-02-25)

Apparently, my (acid-free) paper (from 'SoHo Studio'; shown below) is yellowing, I have [Krylon Workable Fixatif Spray Coating](https://www.walmart.com/grocery/ip/Krylon-Workable-Fixatif-Spray-Coating-11-oz/20683596?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=807&&adid=22222222227017872817&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40941733712&wl4=pla-78879485912&wl5=9027304&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=120643079&wl11=local&wl12=20683596&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQiAj9iBBhCJARIsAE9qRtDx4r76jbxQ4l7KLKfYqBcQwHnNidqvvFyohFXcurbtIT30FltT8pIaArYnEALw_wcB).

Obviously, fixatives prevent this issue to happen, what should I do?
Is there anything special I should do to my paper?
I don't think you can see the yellowing, but just trust me, it is yellow

[![](https://i.sstatic.net/1ImXt.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/1ImXt.jpg)

**Tags:** paper, preservation, charcoal, fixative

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: cool drawing isn't it?  
> **username_1**: I've never had/heard issues with Krylon. Wondering maybe if it is an aging issue related to the age of the can itself. With quality control, and Walmart, it is hard to say how long an item was sitting on the shelf.  
> **username_2**: The fixative, itself, isn't supposed to yellow, but it doesn't prevent the paper from yellowing.  
> **username_0**: @username_1, haha, nope, none of that, the can isn't even a year old. It could be true about how long the can was on the shelf though, but I don't think they allow the con to be there for a long period of time, however, fixative sprays last more than one year  
> **username_0**: @username_2, that's one of the primary porpuses of a fixative, isn't it?  
> **username_2**: @username_0, that isn't the purpose of a fixative.  There are some treatments that are supposed to minimize the oxidation of the paper to slow or stop it from yellowing.  The fixative is only supposed to not yellow, itself, or add acidity that would accelerate the paper's yellowing.  The fixative's purpose is to help bond stuff to the paper.  
> **username_0**: @username_2, well yea, but as you said, the fixative is also supposed to prevent from yellowing, its been just a few months since I sprayed it, this isn't suppose to happen  
> **username_3**: @username_0, that's the opposite of what username_2 said. The fixative does nothing for yellowing one way or the other.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2021-02-25. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

Paper will yellow over time [because of lignin in the pulped wood](https://crafts.stackexchange.com/q/528/30).

Choosing an archival, acid-free fixative means that *the fixative itself* should not yellow over time. Unfortunately, the primary purpose of the **fixative** is to prevent smudging of the media that is on your paper. While it can *slow down* paper yellowing over time (by reducing the surface area of the paper that is exposed to air), it doesn't neutralize those oxidizing chemicals.

There are [ways to treat the paper](https://crafts.stackexchange.com/a/2011/30) to prevent the yellowing from getting worse, and you can also put it behind UV-blocking glass to protect it from further oxidization due to air and light. However, the current yellowing may not be reversible.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: It was the sunlight then   
> **username_5**: BUMP.  It could also be what the paper is mounted on/adjacent to or even what is floating in the air (cigarette smoke for example).  

---

