Abstract: Free radical scavengers, especially those that require the presence of oxygen, are useful in extending the life of photochromic, thermochromic, electrochromic, radiochromic, magnetochromic, photo-electrochromic and similar dyes. Particularly, preferred scavengers are the quinones be it O, M or p- and, most preferably, either the ortho, meta or para-hydroquinone. The so-enhanced dye can be used as a coating or cast as a film.