Which type (or brand name) fixative do you prefer?

I have a multi-media art project which is based in water colors and ink mostly. Any water smudges it.
There are many fine lines beside and within larger patches of deep color.
The substrate is standard watercolor paper.
Should I also coat the backside?

I'm looking for a semi-gloss or satin finish. They will be displayed under glass or decoupaged to wood and metal. I don't want to change the intensity of the colors. Protected but transparent.

Any suggestions?

Ouch, Yeah that is going to be tricky. Car clear coat has been used on ink jet printed pictures with succes, but still a liquid. Have you thought about laminate sealing? I have done some old pictures with that and saved them from more damage. But I would guess size will be a problem. Hope that helps.

As long as you used a fairly acid free paper, mount it under glass, and keep it out of direct sunlight, it will last almost forever. No "Fixative" needed.

contact an arts & crafts shop. Maybe there's some type of spray you can use.

I have a bottle of fixative with a special kind of 'blowpipe' which basically does the same: spray it on the artwork.
It is meant for pencil and/or charcoal. Always worked fine. So I guess there'll be spray cans too.

I've used laminate before, its tricky and tends to yellow over time. Plus, won't really work with decoupage (unless a deep pour).


I did try that, somehow liquid got under the glass? Plus, I live with high humidity so sealing is a must. The pieces intended are a coffee table, sofa table and two end stands.


I talked to the staff at Hobby Lobby and Michael's but when I explained the specifics and the requirements for use they were dumbfounded. Since M2 is world-wide (more or less), I figured someone might have done this already.

Plus it is an 'open thread' to just talk about fixatives in general.
Many of the 'spray' fixatives I've used in the past darken the colors and the paper. I've even used clear top coat paint as a fixative before, which worked for a limited range of media.
Pencil drawings are pretty easy to fix as long as the paper intensity change is not important. However, if the paper must be bright white, some fixatives darken the paper and that takes away from the intended contrast, changing the piece.

You did inspire a train of thought I hadn't considered:
Using an air-brush, I could custom mix the chemicals for a try. Thing is, I would need a chem list and ratio guide. Once I find a mix which is close, I could possibly tweak it to get the results I seek. Thanx for the idea.

Seems to me, looking at what you are trying to do, a "muti-media" type of thing, any type of "fixative" whether chemical or water based, is going to give you problems, colors running, staining the base paper, or dissolving glue, etc. Seems like your best bet is laminate. Yeah it's kind of a pain, but better a little extra work than a ruined piece.

True, for the glass project.
As long as there is no defined edge to the laminate. Might consider a matte.
Maybe a brick & mortar print shop could do it?
Like a sign company?

Not so sure it would work with the decoupage tho.
Unless I can pour it thick enough for a firm coat then borrow a router for the edges? So afraid it might not stick or chip under wear & tear.