I suppose I will try ArtResin next since they claim it is a special formulation although I am skeptical about that. If anybody has achieved results that are good enough for sale I would love to hear how they did that.
Well, I'll tell you in 2 wks about whether the Art Resin coated image sells---that's the first show I'm going to have one in. It's quite a nice look, similar to a face mount, and I'm pleased with it.
Been experimenting with it for a little bit. Just long enough to get a couple that I'm happy to exhibit. Not long enough to pose as an expert but enough to tell you things that do and don't seem to be issues.
It's as finicky in its own way as any coating or laminating. The main things are
- Bubbles
- Dust
- Edge bleed
It bubbles like crazy but playing a chef's torch (like for creme brulee) over the surface pops them nicely---and scares the crap out of you the first time you shoot a high temp flame onto the surface of a good print. Trick is that the bubbles reaccumulate and you have to go over it again after about 10 min. A good light is critical.
Dust will find it---more than standard print coatings. The resin takes overnight to cure although I don't know how long it will pick up dust. I do know it starts right away so you need to work in the cleanest space you've got and then
immediately cover the print with a close-fitting box (the interior of which you have previously varnished and then blown clean in another area just prior to use). You can pick out fresh dust bits w needle or xacto blade sometimes---the resin will flow into a defect for a good 30 min. I've not been able to make a completely dust free 16 x 20 yet but I've no prob with seeing 1 or 2 little ones. If you do, then you need a clean room.
There's some odd faint edge bleed that is visible only on light colored edges (borderless of course). It looks like resin getting under the mounted print. Have tried to seal edges (eg, w polyurethane) but haven't gotten the right process yet (if your sealant gets
on the print, the resin may not play nice). A standard rabbeted frame covers these.
Getting a smooth, even coating is not a problem. Just spread it reasonably carefully and it self-levels. It's THICK
Get proper 1:1 weight mix using accurate scales. Although there's no pump for their bottles, this is not a biggie
Not cheap compared to a couple coats of Clear Jet.
Worth trying if you want that super high gloss look
[/list][/list]