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Trouble with Hahnemuhle spray


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I have a project in which I am mounting prints (mostly printed on Hahnemuhle photo luster) on gatorboard and then hanging them without a matte or glass or frame. I'm trying a cheap version of the metallic prints that are so popular now. Anyway, I'm having trouble when i spray the prints with the Hahnemuhle protective spray. For one thing, the instruction say to lay the print flat but when I do that I have to have the can oriented horizontally in which position the spray does not seem to be uniform. So instead I put the print vertically but have had inconsistent results with some prints showing dripping (obviously too much spray) and others where the spray seems uneven and then others where it seems to work well. I was spraying them once going in a horizontal direction and then turning the print 90 deg and repeating. Then waiting 15 minutes to repeat that procedure. I'm doing another batch soon so I intend to have the can farther away and spray a lighter layer. Any advice or experience with what does and doesn't work?

 

Also, once the spray dries and one sees imperfections, can you spray it again? Thanks for any help!

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A friend of mine who opened a studio set up an exhaust blower with a nearly vertical perforated plate. The suction would hold the print steady and safely remove the overspray.

 

If you get drips, you are spraying incorectly - too close, and/or too slow, It's better to use two coats which dry quickly than one heavy coat. Keep the spray at right angles to the surface and continue spraying past the edges to prevent overcoating the edges and (likely) dripping). The spray should not look wet more than a few seconds, and never wet enough to drip, you Overlap the passes to avoid gaps and. uneven coating. You will need good lighting, and don't forget protective gear.

 

Ask someone in a body shop to show you how it's done.

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I usually place prints on a 30 degree angle. I use a light a few feet in front of me that reflects off the print. It gives the best view of where and how much I'm spraying. As Ed has said, spray lightly, using overlapping passes. Start and end past the edges. Use multiple coats, turning 90 degrees each time. I use 2-4 coats, depending on the effect I want (and how brave I'm feeling).

 

ALSO, it's VERY important to let the prints fully cure for a day or two BEFORE spraying. Otherwise you will get fogging from within the blacks due to out-gassing.

Edited by alan_cox|3
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