First off, if your coating anyway don't buy the Satin or Gloss Exhibition Canvas which is more expensive !!
Use Exhibition Matte and roll on the Eco Print Shield gloss in three coats. It is a pleasure to use! The first coat (light) seals the ink and keeps subsequent coats from smearing, Second coat heavier to protect and then a final also heavier coat. If you need a satin finish do the last coat in Satin EPS.
I can roll any size canvas as fast as spraying, without any expensive equipment, and clean up is less than 5 minutes to wash out the roller! I have been using the same foam roller for over a year (despite the fact that they are cheap as dirt). I keep the roller moist in a baggie between uses), which helps to get the first application absorbed onto the roller easier ;-)
I was just about to offer one more piece of advice if you are thinking of rolling EPS, as I have done for many years. Just read David's reply and he has mentioned it as well. Although I choose not to let the roller set in a bag damp(possibility of mold occuring), I definitely do wet it down and then get almost all of the water out of it before applying the first coat. In my experience, and David's as well obviously, starting a first coat on matte canvas with a dry roller will use considerably more coating than necessary. A damp roller will absorb more of the coating and apply it in a more even fashion for the first coat. I've found that it makes no difference for the additional coats, but it can't hurt either. As far as bubbles are concerned you will have an abundance of them when you roll EPS. First of all, you
MUST shake the coating vigorously before applying, since to does tend to separate(fall out of solution) while sitting in the container. The agitation alone will cause a copious amount of bubbles(foam) to accumulate on top of and within the coating. Secondly, the foam roller is filled with air, which also tends to add to the bubble "issue". When you finish applying your first coating with EPS you will likely be tempted to re-roll it repeatedly until all of the bubbles have disappeared. Not only is that not necessary, it can also eventually draw back some of the coating into the roller. The best thing to do at this point is to not give in to temptation. "
OH OH, I feel another Jimism coming along after that last statement". But seriously, just ignore the bubbles. They will magically disappear once the coating has completely dried. Of course you will likely notice a bit of streaking after the first coat, which is normal and also to be ignored. The second coat will even things out completely. Not to worry! This probably sounds like an add campaign for Premier Art EPS, so let me state that I have NO affiliation to the company other than the fact that I find their product to be easy to use, clean up and best of all, it does a fine job of protecting the canvas to which you have dedicated your time and efforts. Hope this has been useful.
ROLLIN' ROLLIN' ROLLIN' It's the only way to go!
Gary
