Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Finding a True Collectible
Place the item of interest in a darkened area of the room. If this is not feasible, such as in an antique store, cover the item with a dark cloth to block as much light as possible.
Turn on the UV light by flipping the switch to the "on" position. Different models may turn on and off by various means. Follow the instructions that come with the light. Place the light under one corner of the cover, in a comfortable position to see the object.
Run the light slowly over the surface of the object being tested. Areas on paper products, such as trading cards or posters, that have been altered to remove identifiers of being copies, or have had forged autographs added, will reflect the UV light and give the appearance of glowing. Repaired and repainted areas of sculpture, pottery or paintings stand out clearly under ultraviolet light. Newer paints reflect the UV rays, while older paints absorb them. The repainted parts will be much brighter.
Tilt the paper product or painting under the UV light. Autograph and text forgeries are painfully obvious under close inspection. The altered area will appear dull in comparison with the item as a whole. This is a good indication that the object is not all that it is offered to be.