Paper Coatings for Fine Art Prints

[alexiskraussart]

Hey everyone, I'm new here so this may be the wrong category - please let me know if I should post this somewhere else.

I am an artist and I print my own giclees with the Canon Pixma Pro 10.

I'm trying to figure out where I can buy a matte/gloss coating (must be archival quality) that I can spray/apply directly onto uncoated paper which makes it so that ink stays on the surface, thus resulting in a more vibrant print.
Coated papers specifically made for art prints or photography are quite pricey, so I would like to coat my own paper.

I have read that some paper manufacturers use a type of clay coating (kaolin clay) or some sort of calcium coating, but I can't find them for sale anywhere since it's such a specialized material. Do you know where I could buy some, or would I be able to buy the dry kaolin clay powder and make my own solution using water or some other mixture?

Otherwise, would I be able to spray an archival matte spray varnish directly onto the paper, which is usually intended to be sprayed on top of things? I am assuming that that would work but I want to hear your input first. Maybe there's another unusual product that I could use that wouldn't degrade the underlying paper?

Thanks in advance!

 

[user7200]

There you are bro.

If you want to be creative take a look to this 2 products that seems very promising:

Ilford Galerie Creative Emulsion

InkAID

Basically they are a varnish that allow the underlying surface to become inkjet coated. The drawback is that in order to do so an uniform apply should be made.

Check the videos and see if it could work for you.

I have read that some paper manufacturers use a type of clay coating (kaolin clay) or some sort of calcium coating, but I can't find them for sale anywhere since it's such a specialized material. Do you know where I could buy some, or would I be able to buy the dry kaolin clay powder and make my own solution using water or some other mixture?

For what concerns kaolin clay powder you should just basically ask to a pottery ceramic shop. They do use that kind of stuff and should be able to provide you the necessary for your tests. Please consider that this kind of powder is very volatile and if not blended correctly with water and glue and if it's free to travel could destroy your printer. It could be possible that photo paper maker use this kind of stuff but in micronized fashion and with highly specialized material - hence the cost... I would not risk my fine art printer with any kind of powder material involved...

 

[turbotom1052]

I believe that what's under the ink will have more of an effect on vibrancy than what's over the ink!!!

 

[Onyxonic]

Found this while browsing and wanted to add my two cents. For matte or gloss protection, I’ve had good luck with spray coatings like Hahnemühle or Premier Art—light coats to avoid bronzing. If you’re printing a lot, a small cold laminator with archival films can give more even results. Curious if you ever tried any products, or if you’re still looking for options.

 

[Crushizer]

A lot of artists I know spray their giclee prints with Hahnemühle or Moab archival coatings; both give a clean matte or soft gloss without changing colors. I’ve tested small swatches first to see how much the paper drinks in the spray. On a lighter note, I sometimes prep backgrounds using a printable stencil design for kids because it lays down shapes cleanly before I coat the final piece.