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Author Topic: When to seal/coat canvas for stretching  (Read 6245 times)

philipkenney

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When to seal/coat canvas for stretching
« on: January 12, 2012, 01:33:22 pm »

Hi, I just have a quick question with sealing a canvas that is going to be stretched. Is it better to seal it before, after, or both a canvas has been stretched? I've done sealing before it but had a couple of finish cracks - makes me weary of trying that again!

Thanks!
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bill t.

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Re: When to seal/coat canvas for stretching
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2012, 01:38:42 pm »

The usual thing is to wrap within about 1/2 day to a few days after coating while the coating is still flexible.  Even though canvas coating paint is designed for flexibility it will harden quite a bit in the long term.  The coatings also offer good protection from scratching and scuffing during the wrapping process and may help prevent cracking at the corners.

If you coat an already stretched canvas there will be areas under the folds that do get any paint.  This could cause issues over time or if the canvas needs to be re-stretched because of sagging.
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langier

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Re: When to seal/coat canvas for stretching
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2012, 05:54:36 pm »

After printing and letting my canvas dry a day or two, I coat them with liquid laminate.

This not only makes the canvas pop with brilliance and enriches the blacks and other colors, but protects the image from scratching and makes the print layer more flexible for stretching. Stretching uncoated canvas can be done, but the canvas is very vulnerable to damage without the coating.

Once coated, the canvas is very flexible and besides physical protection, the coating will also protect against UV, many liquids, finger prints, etc.

In my experience, the canned spray-on coatings are just not enough protection. You've got to roll it on, use a HVLP sprayer or tray laminator like the Daige EZ Glide.
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philipkenney

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Re: When to seal/coat canvas for stretching
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2012, 09:58:30 am »

Thanks for the tips! That's pretty much what I have been doing. I'm having a professional wrap my next canvas to see if its just lack of experience that has given me problems (most likely!).
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dgberg

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Re: When to seal/coat canvas for stretching
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2012, 10:08:44 am »

Thanks for the tips! That's pretty much what I have been doing. I'm having a professional wrap my next canvas to see if its just lack of experience that has given me problems (most likely!).

Exactly what problems are you having? What finish product are you using and how are you applying it?

philipkenney

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Re: When to seal/coat canvas for stretching
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2012, 11:05:25 am »

No major problems, just a couple of small finish issues where you wrap around the stretcher bars. Very minor, but not perfect! I think I may be using the pliers wrong? I had a local painter show me how he does it, but just haven't perfected it. I'm using the Epson exhibition canvas (I know it's not the highest grade material, but this is my first try with any canvas and I really like what I am getting) and so I'm having to spray it since it is not waterproof. Also just using the hahnemuhle spray for now (I use it on my prints and it says it can be used on canvas).

The canvas I need stretching is a 18" by 48" and while I have stretched smaller canvases (some successful and some with minor blemishes), this one is quite large and I do not want to reprint it because of any errors on my part.

I'm new to the whole preparing canvas thing so any help would be great!
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dgberg

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Re: When to seal/coat canvas for stretching
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2012, 11:23:43 am »

The finish you are using may be part of your problem.
All of the solvent sprays for canvas and paper prints will add a protective coating as well as limited uv protection.
 We use Clearstar FA a solvent spray finish only on canvas and paper prints that are flat mounted to gatorboard,multiply panels and Dibond. (Not on any canvas that gets stretched.)
If you use it on canvas you are stretching you may see some level of ink cracking at the corners. (Some folks do use it without many problems but it is a crap shoot.)

I use Breathing Colors Glamor II and Timeless,both will give the canvas that protection and flexibility required for stretching. (There are other manufacturers that make comparable products.)
The added flexibility from these products should eliminate any corner cracking.

« Last Edit: January 13, 2012, 05:09:02 pm by Dan Berg »
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