In this video I’m sharing the results from my 6-month lightfast test on Daniel Smith watercolors—specifically, which colors noticeably fade and which ones hold up the way you’d expect for work you want to last. I swatched and compared the changes over time so you can actually see the difference, and I talk through what “fugitive” really means in practical painting terms (because it’s not always obvious from a pretty swatch). I also go into how to read lightfast ratings and why rating systems can be confusing across brands. I include a simple chart/resource to help you understand what you’re looking at, and I point you to my running fugitive pigments list so you can double-check pigments before you buy. If you want to build a more reliable palette, I also share my favorite lightfast pigments list—basically my “ultimate mixing set” idea for a versatile, dependable palette. The big takeaway: don’t shop by color name—shop by pigment and rating, especially if you’re selling work or displaying it in light.