I've taken off the bottom leaves plus some that shade specific tomatoes so sunlight hits the toms- it seems to ripen them faster (I think).
BUT this is only done to a few plants to hurry them along. The rest I leave to go at their own pace.
GA the sun does not turn a tomato red,it turns in darkness with the aid of a bit of humidity.
Hope you did not take of to many leaves in one go.
from the internet: "Another factor in how long it takes for a tomato to turn red is the outside temperature.
Tomatoes will only produce lycopene and carotene, two substances that help a tomato turn red, between the temperatures of 50F and 85F. If it is any cooler that 50F, those tomatoes will stay a stubborn green. Any warmer than 85F and the process that produces lycopene and carotene comes to a screeching halt."
"Tomatoes are triggered to turn red by a chemical called ethylene. Ethylene is odorless, tasteless and invisible to the naked eye. When the tomato reaches the proper green mature stage, it starts to produce ethylene. The ethylene then interacts with the tomato fruit to start the ripening process. Consistent winds can carry the ethylene gas away from the fruit and slow the ripening process." Maybe when the sun strikes the tomato it turns red faster because it heats the tomato up a bit? That's my theory and I'm sticking to it! ;D