Fading Vs Photographic Lighting

For 1990s and newer modern U.S., is there a way to tell in a listing whether or not stamps where colors appear faded are truly faded or if its the ambient lighting that makes stamps look faded? Does certain lighting cause stamps to look faded?

Do you have an example to show where you suspect this has happened?

There is also the situation where a slight relatively light application of certain ink colors can make some stamps look paler than others for the same issue.

Ink colors including the component colors can look different under different kinds of lighting also (fluorescent vs. LED vs. daylight).

Is there a way to tell? Kind of...
Like hy-brasil said, different light sources will have different effects on the look of whatever is being photographed, washing colors out, changing tints, making paper yellow, etc. Your best best would be to compare the listing in question with others for the same item. Rarely is only one of a certain specimen for sale on ebay, for example. You could also check out sites like stampworld.com and of course usps.com that may give you an idea.

Here is an example. In most other examples of this issue, the red colors on the birds are a bright vivid red, whereas in this photo, the reds look a bid faded or less red. Do you all think this sheet in its original shrinkwrap is faded vs the lighting causing the colors to look faded? What would cause the reds to not be as bright?

It might just be the lighting here, but if the image of the pane is indeed what the pane looks like, it looks somewhat faded overall. The blue doesn't look particularly strong, either. The red (actually a combination of the magenta and yellow inks used) might be the most obvious changed color.

The shrinkwrap is no protection against fading caused by ultraviolet light. This then might then have been in a glass case for a time in a place with fluorescent lights. Standard glass is not protection against UV light, either.

The ambient lighting has a significant impact on how the image appears. The image above appears to me be taken under a 'warm' ambient lighting, giving it a yellowish cast.
Don

Thank you hy-brasil and Don for your comments.

Assuming the actual sheet looks exactly like the picture--reds and blue a little less sharp than other examples, do you think a non-philatelist would notice the lighter coloration if they received the sheet as a gift to use as postage on greeting cards?

My answer is, "who cares?" Postage is postage is postage. As long as the stamps are un-cancelled, they are good for postage.

I don't think it would make a difference. You should probably remind the recipient that first class postage is now 60c (first oz).

hybrasil and others:

If you don't mind, can you give me your opinion about whether or not you think the flowering trees, Elvis, state flags, or other stamps in this lot are faded or if the lighting makes it look that way.

After looking at many other examples online of the flowering trees, Elvis and state flags, these look faded to me.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/275453963465


I have no connection at all to this listing.