Digital BW, The Print

Hi James,

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com,
James Haney <jhaney@l...> wrote:
> The paper was yellow over the entire surface but
> not evenly. There were patches of white area
> running vertically down the page near the edge. It
> looked like things I have seen where a highly
> acidic paper had been lain on another page over
> time.

I have seen the yellowing caused by UVLS but it's
an overall faint color shift toward yellow which is
correctable by profiling. Does the yellow you see
appear excessive?

> This leads me to think that it is neither the spray
> nor the varnish, which were both applied very
> evenly. It seems more likely to me that the problem
> lies in the coating or storage of the paper. I have
> all of my paper in the box it came in from Ink Jet
> Art.

I would think so, too. I'm interested in knowing
what might be the source of the problem.

> Other thoughts:
> 
> Since you have moved on to Golden Varnish, perhaps
> you could lend me the benefit of your experience in
> finding my own way.

Sure. Helen Bach also seems to have some experience
with Golden Acrylic. I think Liquitex is fine for
large scale mural work, but for coating inkjet prints
I think the line of Golden Acrylic is best.

> Issues I have found with the Liquitex combination:
> 
> The Speedball brayer (black rubber) leaves little
> black particles which look like tiny hairs in the
> varnish - I have started using small foam paint
> rollers.

The black particles came from the manufacturing process.
I think some initial washing of the brayer or rolling 
it over some tacky papers should fix the problem.

> The varnish dries so fast that you can't fix
> problems like debris or slight variations in
> finish.

Add a retarder to the solution to slow the drying. You
must be talking about the Liquitex medium & varnish?

> No matter the dilution I end up with bubbles that
> create problems once in a while.

This is not the case with Golden GAC 500. In a
previous posting I shared a technique where you
use a soft dry brush and run across the surface
you just rolled on. The brush will magically
pick up all bubbles without leaving any marks.

> I really like the look of the rolled on finish
> versus brushed on.

Yes. The finish goes on much more evenly with the
roller. Also it doesn't go on as thick causing
too much sheen. Paper texture is preserved better
with the roller.

You seem to take this approach much further than I
do  :)  I'm still working on the aesthetic of
coating but haven't arrived yet at an approach
which I think looks the best. I'm getting close
though. It's somewhere between fogging and full
liquid lamination of the media where I get good
saturation with minimal sheen.

--nick