Choose the most cost-effective way to protect your valuable prints from scratches and damage from UV rays, humidity and air pollutants. Photography and art prints can be protected with traditional framing systems, laminating films, clear coats or protective sprays.
If you do occasional small prints, a protective spray might be fine, but liquid varnishes are a popular choice, and studios use wide-format professional model inkjet printers to produce multiple, large-scale photographic and art prints.
Why is it recommended to use spray paint instead of liquid paint?
Aerosol sprays and liquid paints basically protect the image. But with aerosol paints, it can be difficult to get the correct level of solids to create a good protective film. It usually requires more coats to achieve the same desired effect. Liquids are more cost-effective and can be applied either with a high-density foam roller or sprayed with systems purchased at home improvement stores. While LexJet sells protective sprays from Hahnemuhle and Clearstar, we currently do not offer Sunset Gloss or Satin Coat in spray form.
What is the proper way to apply liquid paint?
If I were to build a printmaking studio from scratch, it would include an enclosed, well-ventilated, dust-free area where I could use industrial HVLP (high volume, low pressure) Spray Guns. HVLP Spray Guns waste less coat when overspraying than other types of Spray Guns. It also provides control over the application process. But since most photographers' studios don't have the space to paint (and don't justify the purchase of a professional coating system), Sunset Liquid Paint works just as well when applied with a Spray Gun, brush, or foam roller.
Using rollers to develop the correct technique takes some practice and is largely dependent on the temperature and humidity of the working environment. Lexine's Jet Focus newsletter, where you can read some helpful tips for rolling on a varnish.
What are the common causes of errors?
Three common mistakes are using incompatible materials, coating the print before it is completely dry, and uneven coating.
Incompatible Materials: Sunset Paint is a water-based paint. If you apply a water-based varnish over non-water-resistant inks and papers, you can easily ruin the print. LexJet sells a variety of photo papers, art papers, and canvases that can be protected with LexJet Sunset Coat. A LexJet Account Professional can tell you if the combination of inks and materials used to print will work with LexJet Sunset Coatings.
Not waiting long enough for the print to dry before coating: Different inks dry at different rates, especially if you're working in an area where temperature and humidity can vary a lot. Even if your fingerprints are dry to the touch, they may not be ready for varnish. You need to make sure your print has proper "venting" before you apply liquid paint.
Outgassing is the process by which the glycol used as a humectant in the ink evaporates. If the glycol has not fully outgassed before you apply the paint, your finished print may appear cloudy.
To test whether a print has outgassed, some good printmakers suggest this method: lay each print on a flat surface, and cover the print with cheap butcher paper. Evaporating diols create ripples on the meat paper. Periodically replace the wavy butcher paper with a new sheet. If, after a few hours, there are no waves on the new paper, the print has probably finished degassing and is dry enough for a clear coat.
Uneven Coating: If some areas of the print have a different sheen than others, it is most likely unevenly coated.
What are the advantages of a clear coat?
A properly formulated clear coat can add longevity to your fine print or art canvas, protecting it from everyday hazards such as fingerprints, scratches or exposure to sunlight, humidity and air pollutants.
A glossy clear coat can improve the density of blacks and the vibrancy of colors in prints. But if you don't want your finished product to look glossy, try applying a Sunset Gloss and finish with a Sunset Satin finish. The gloss of the finished print is determined by the gloss of the final layer.
