What Are inkAID Inkjet Coatings
inkAID inkjet receptive coatings are water based coatings intended for use with all inkjet printers using water based inkjet inks, both pigment and dye. They allow the artist to coat and subsequently print over a large variety of substrates including paper, canvas, fabrics, metal, wood, film, and acrylic paints. Store inkAID inkjet receptive coatings between 50° and 80° Fahrenheit.
Important Note: Inkjet receptive coatings are not intended to provide the final “finish” or gloss level of your work. That is achieved by applying a top-coating (a.k.a. varnish) after the print has completely dried. Also, keep in mind the type and texture of your underlying substrate will greatly affect the gloss level of the piece after coating. It is not required that inkjet prints be top-coated but this does add a layer of protection against moisture and abrasion. The inkAID product descriptions below provide a general recommendation about what type of top-coating to use.
To learn more about protecting your finished work click on this link which will direct you to the page on our website that provides detailed information and recommendations.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS
inkAID White Matte Coating: A semi-opaque white matte coating suitable for printing onto a large variety of porous and non-porous surfaces. The smooth and absorbent surface allows inkjet inks to dry rapidly, making it an ideal choice for both pigment and dye based inks. It is extremely water resistant and finished prints can be top coated with water based top-coats and varnishes, if desired. Solvent based top-coats and varnishes are not recommended. inkAID White Matte coating is an ideal starting product for artists exploring the incorporation of digital printing using novel substrates in their work. inkAID White Matte coating cannot be allowed to freeze. Frozen product will become unusable.
inkAID Clear Gloss Type II Coating: A clear gloss coating for use on non-porous surfaces, such as metals, foils, synthetic fabrics, plastics, and acrylic paints when clarity is desired. It contains an adhesive additive which strongly binds the coating to non-porous materials. It can also be used on porous materials. It is not water resistant. Note that when printing with pigment based inkjet inks, the printed area will not dry completely because glycols (essentially “antifreeze”) are used in the inkjet ink and this material never completely evaporates at room temperature. Only solvent based top-coatings and varnishes should be used on inkAID Clear Gloss Type II coating.
inkAID Clear Gloss Coating: A clear gloss coating for use on most porous surfaces where clarity is required to view underlying materials. It is not water resistant. Note that when printing with pigment based inkjet inks, the printed area will not dry completely because glycols (essentially “antifreeze”) are used in the inkjet ink and this material never completely evaporates at room temperature. Only solvent based top-coatings and varnishes should be used on inkAID Clear Gloss coating.
inkAID Clear Semi-Gloss Coating: A clear, somewhat semi-gloss, coating for use on porous surfaces where clarity is required to view the underlying substrate. It is not water resistant. Note that when printing with pigment based inkjet inks, the printed area will not dry completely because glycols (essentially “antifreeze”) are used in the inkjet ink and this material never completely evaporates at room temperature. Only solvent based top-coatings and varnishes should be used on inkAID Clear Semi-Gloss coating.
inkAID Clear Matte Coating: An essentially clear gloss coating containing a small amount of matting agent providing a very slight level of translucency to your print. It is not water resistant. Note that when printing with pigment based inkjet inks, the printed area will not dry completely because glycols (essentially “antifreeze”) are used in the inkjet ink and this material never completely evaporates at room temperature. Only solvent based top-coatings and varnishes should be used on inkAID Clear Matte coating.
inkAID Iridescent Coatings: These are one of the inkAID clear gloss coatings which contain iridescent pigments. They come is eight different colors and can be mixed together to produce unique colors. They can produce a “color shift effect” depending upon the viewing angel. You should choose your substrate and image carefully to take full advantage of the image enhancing capabilities of these coatings. They are not water resistant. Note that when printing with pigment based inkjet inks, the printed area will not dry completely because glycols (essentially “antifreeze”) are used in the inkjet ink and this material never completely evaporates at room temperature. Only solvent based top-coatings and varnishes should be used on inkAID Iridescent coatings.
inkAID Translucent Gloss Coating: A translucent gloss coating suitable for printing onto a large variety of porous and non-porous substrates. The smooth and absorbent surface allows inkjet inks to dry rapidly, making it an ideal choice for both pigment and dye based inks. It is extremely water resistant. If you remember ever printing your photographs on that “special inkjet photo paper” this is the ink receptive coating that was used. Finished prints can be top coated with water based top-coats and varnishes, if desired. Solvent based top-coats and varnishes are not recommended. inkAID Translucent Gloss coating cannot be allowed to freeze. Frozen product will become unusable.