Luminous Landscape Forum
Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Printing: Printers, Papers and Inks => Topic started by: pointypointypointy on May 25, 2013, 06:41:40 pm
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I am new to digital photography but have already made several prints that I like, and would give to friends and family. However, the paper I bought, Epson Premium Luster Photo Paper, is covered in warnings about touching the printed surface. I would like to make my prints more durable, and searching around the internet I have found several products recommended by different sources:
http://www.uscutter.com/ClearJet-Liq...ss-Spray-12-oz
http://www.ecoprintshield.com/coating-with-printshield/
http://www.apexinks.com/lyson-print-guard.php
http://www.dickblick.com/products/kr...crystal-clear/
Is one of these particularly appropriate for my purposes, or is there another method altogether I should look into? These are large prints, the one I am particularly concerned about is 16x48". I do not want to spend a lot of money so mounting behind glass is not feasible.
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I do not want to spend a lot of money...
Does not compute.
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For Premium Luster, I would consider Premier Print Shield. Does a very good job and will give you basic protection from fingerprints and light scratches. However you will have bigger issues.
http://www.dtgweb.com/shop/product.php?productid=25020&cat=0&page=2 (http://www.dtgweb.com/shop/product.php?productid=25020&cat=0&page=2)
This will help, but with any print of 48", you will have handling issues, if you don't at least mount it, and frame it. Epson Luster will scratch in a heart beat while handling, and while moving it you will most likely get a v Crease and ruin the print. Luster and any paper coming off a roll will have curl and this alone makes working with large prints tricky. I am referring to just handling from the printer, to mounting board for normal framing. RC paper, (resin coated) which is what Epson Luster is, will take a long long time to get all the curl out. You can use tools like the D-roller but there will still be curl and once you roll it up to transport, you will put curl right back in. With a print of this size, you will need to roll it up for transport, and this will also give you a chance to damage it.
Paul Caldwell
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I've found that the durability with Epson Luster is partially handling and partially the Ultrachrome ink version. With the Ultrachrome K3 and newer inks, surface abrasions were less common than the original Ultrachrome inks. I would second the notion of using the Print Shield or the Desert Varnish spays (the may be the same can with a different label for all I know. Handle with both clean hands and white gloves (cotton or nylon, "parade" gloves seem to last longer), and if you ship them, use a piece of interleaving paper if you roll them or simply place in a plastic bag within the shipping flat.
In any case, before trimming, shipping, etc., let the prints outgas/dry for at least 20-30 minutes and better yet, a full day or more.
HTH,
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You want to "protect" them but you don't want to spend enough money to actually DO that?
No amount of spraying will give you REAL protection from damage. Only glass or plexi in front of it will do that.
By the time you have sprayed enough coats to "protect" it, you could have just bought a piece of glass.
You could get away with a plastic laminate coating but them you'd need a heat table.
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You want to "protect" them but you don't want to spend enough money to actually DO that?
No amount of spraying will give you REAL protection from damage. Only glass or plexi in front of it will do that.
By the time you have sprayed enough coats to "protect" it, you could have just bought a piece of glass.
You could get away with a plastic laminate coating but them you'd need a heat table.
Or just over laminate it through a cold roll laminator.
Most any sign shop could do that for you.
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There are levels of protection. Not all applications need the "real" protection. mho