Description
The fixative is a solution that will protect your drawings made with pastel, chalk, charcoal or similar dust-based materials from smudging. UV filter contained in the fixative will ensure lightfastness of the colours. This means that the shades of the drawing will not fade with time.
The fixative is a dissolvent solution of suitable resin, used to fix the drawing surface. The product will preserve the drawing and after the colours dry up, the drawing is protected against smudging and cannot be wiped off or rubbed out.
The fixative spray is applied by spraying the drawing evenly and crosswise from the distance of about 20 to 30 cm in one or more light layers. The fixative in a liquid form can be applied by a vaporizer or, very gently, a paintbrush (on the reverse of the drawing). Ideally, the fixative should be used out-of-doors or in a well-ventilated room. It is recommended to test the fixation procedure first before actually applying the product on your work, in order to prevent any possible damage of the original drawing. The fixative layer with UV filter may partially affect the final appearance of the drawing or painting.
If you need to fix your drawing, do not use ballpoint pens, felt-tip pens or markers. These writings aids will bleed or change the colour after the fixative is applied. Multiple application of the fixative or a thicker layer will make the drawing darker, with a result of more intensive depth. Where the fixative is applied on an uneven surface, the spray must be applied in multiple layers and in various directions to make sure that the fixative layer covers all surface of the painting.
Since the fixative can seep through if applied on a thinner base, a clean sheet of paper or cardboard should be placed under the drawing. The fixing process can be done in several steps. If you want to fix a finished part of your drawing, apply the fixative on that part and then continue drawing. It is possible to draw on the part of the drawing that has been fixed, but it cannot be rubbed out. The drawing surface can be fixed in several layers, but the first spraying must be left to evaporate and dry.
In principle, there is no sense in using the fixative on acrylic or oil paintings since the surface of such paintings is water- and abrasion-resistant after drying. For paintings in distemper or water colours, a fixative layer may prevent later damage by water. For example, a stronger layer of the fixative applied on a cotton T-shirt painted with liquid watercolours will ensure that the painting on the fabric will be preserved if washed with care.
