Protecting and Preserving Your Giclee Prints

Three of my favorites spray coatings for protecting giclee or inkjet prints on paper have been the following: Moab Desert Varnish, Hahnemuhle Protective Spray and PremierArt Shield. These may run about $15-$20 a can so you will want to use them very carefully so as to not waste any of the valuable solution. This video shows you the appropriate spraying technique to ensure a consistent coating. In it we use the Moab Desert Varnish on photo printed on the Moab Somerset Enhanced Velvet. It was printed with a Canon iPF8400 using the Canon Lucia Inks. When spraying make sure the area you spray is well ventilated since the fumes from the spray are very strong.

These lacquer based sprays are highly recommended for long term preservation. Not only do these provide the inks on a print a protective barrier but many times they have UV inhibitors which further extend the lifespan of a print. Applying these requires care since you do not want to overspray and leave obvious spots on your print where the spray appears to be applied more heavily. The secret is to apply the spray evenly and consistently across the entire face of the print.

Applying the spray is not difficult but technique is important so you do not create heavy spots and have a consistent coating. If may be a good idea to practice with a newspaper or other surface first. Inspect the coated piece at an angle with some bright light hitting it after you have applied it to make sure it looks consistent. Afterwards let it dry for at least 30 minutes.

The advantage to a lacquer based spray versus a water based coating is that it won’t cause the underlying paper to warp or shrink, especially with a cotton based paper. Plus it dries faster. The protection they afford are worth the money, especially if you choose to make the prints available to the public for handling. There are other sprays out on the market but I cannot safely vouch for them. If you find something else labeled to protect inkjet prints, experiment with it carefully. I have had the displeasure of trying certain cheaper sprays which turned my prints chalky white.