Digital BW, The Print

Hi Helen,

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "helen_bach2003"
<helenbach@h...> wrote:
> I switched from solvent-based coatings to Golden water-based
> polymer varnish after reading Stephen Livick's reports. ...

I happen to work very close to a Utrecht art suplly store so that was
where I picked up my first bottle of Liquitex gloss medium and
varnish. Then in further research I read about Golden acrylic and
found the store also carry a full section of all different types of
them. A Golden Paints rep helped me discover the use of various
polymers such as GAC 500, 700, etc. to use as the base coating.

I was thrilled to see how easy the GAC goes on almost anything. No
runs, with minimal shrinkage. Then you have a choice of water or
solvent based polymer varnish to apply as the final coat.

The beauty of the underlying acrylic isolation coat is it gives no
discoloration in terms of yellowing of the substrate. It's the varnish
that causes mild yellowing if it comes in direct contact with the
inkjet paper itself.

So after laying down an initial coat of GAC 500 using an airbrush (as
you said a roller might work, too), I lay on a thicker coat of the
same polymer using a roller, then a thin coat of an incredibly clear
Golden polymer that boosts color saturation like nothing you have ever
seen: Golden self leveling acrylic diluted for brushing. This coat
really seals the surface so UVLS cannot interact with the paper. Then
I use either Golden MSA or polymer gloss varnish.

This sounds like a lot of work but it's all water based so it's not
much trouble at all. The only solvent I might use is from an aerosol
spray can, but I might not use it after all. In the end you get a very
well protected print with maximum color gamut or dynamic range.

The only problem at the end is you end up with a very glossy surface
which I find unappealing. I found Krylon Matte Finish does a good job
at reducing this gloss with very little reduction in saturation.

Coating glossy prints is actually more difficult than coating matte
prints but I'll share my insights in a future posting.

--nick