Canvas is one of the most commonly coated media we see, and for a simple reason: it is almost always hung unglazed. With no glass in front of it, a canvas print is exposed to dust, fingerprints, cleaning, kitchen grease, sunlight and the occasional knock. Coating is the canvas equivalent of a frame’s glazing.
Why canvas needs particular care
Inkjet canvas has a receiving layer applied over a woven base, and the texture of the weave means ink and coating sit in peaks and hollows rather than on a flat surface. Canvas is also stretched and folded around a frame, which puts the print under strain at the edges and corners. A protective coating needs to stay flexible enough to cope with that without cracking.
Colourjet protects against water, chemicals and abrasion, with integrated UV inhibitors to help guard against premature fading. That suits canvas prints of photography, fine art reproduction and décor sold to customers who will hang them in bright living spaces.
Getting a good result
- Coat before stretching. In most workflows it is easier to coat flat and then stretch, once the coating is fully dry. Test that your coated canvas folds cleanly at the corners.
- Work the coating into the texture. Whether by roller, brush or machine, aim for an even layer that reaches into the weave without pooling.
- Dry the print fully first. Pigment canvas prints should be thoroughly dry. Eco-solvent and latex canvas should be allowed to dry and outgas fully.
- Keep it clean. Canvas attracts lint and dust. Clean the surface and the work area before coating.
For studios coating canvas regularly, a liquid lamination machine gives a more consistent finish across a run than hand coating. See the equipment range.
Things to check
- Canvases differ in their coating layer. Matte, satin and gloss canvases may each look different once coated, so test each one you use.
- Some canvases sold as “uncoated” or artist-grade may react to solvent. Test on an offcut first.
- Dye-based prints on canvas need extra caution, as dyes can bleed under solvent and fade more readily in any case.
- Check the folded corner of a coated sample for cracking or whitening.
Our guides include step-by-step advice on coating canvas by hand.
If you are trying a new canvas, send us a printed offcut and we will coat it and tell you how it went. You can also reach us on 01252 624 411.