An overview of progress in the past several years indicates that outstanding advances have been made in the conservator's knowledge of solvent power owing to an increased appreciation and understanding of the concept of solubility parameters. Objective investigations are increasingly being conducted on the ease of removal of aged coatings. A so-called hard-edge phenomenon frequently observed in these studies, is noted in which the coating dissolves primarily by gradual dissolution of the surface of the resin. An extensive 1981 review of the photochemical reactions of methacrylate polymers under visible and near-ultra-violet radiation is cited. As to immediate future, the field will be devoting more attention to testing of thermosetting resins and of additives such as antioxidants and ultraviolet absorbers. Standard coatings that possess both excellent and intermediate properties will be needed.