Painting a poster?

Jay H

PFG, Picture Framing God
Joined
Dec 8, 2003
Posts
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Loc
KY
A lady brought me a poster the other day and said that she didn’t want glass on it because of the glare. I showed her some non-glare and she was ok with that but said that there was another framer that “painted” something on her other posters. Don’t ask me why but I assume it was to “protect” it. I guess if you consider laminating something “protecting”. Anyway, does anybody have the slightest clue what she’s talking about?
 
Jay,

I'll bet somebody texturized it with Mod-Podge or T-Gel or something similar.

That really only makes sense on a reproduction of an oil, since you simulate brush strokes, and then only for an image - not for a poster border.

Or, someone might have sprayed it with Krylon or similar.
 
Oh, that was close, Jerry.

And I think you're right - it's Z-Gel.

What the **** is T-Gel, anyway?
 
This was a paper poster from cambodia. I don't want to think how valueable this thing would have become as soon as I ruined it with T or Z or P Gel. Chicken? Bak bak.

So is texture the only purpose for this?
 
Neutrogena T-Gel is a nasty smelly (tar based?) shampoo for controlling dandruff. Used to use it a lot in the Nursing Home I worked in during the 80's. You can buy in the HABA aisle in your grocery.

But why would be put THAT on a poster?
 
Maybe if the poster was flaking badly . . . Thanks for jogging my memory, Bob.

Jay, the gel simulates brush strokes (think fake oil painting) but also provides a degree of protection, eliminating the need for glass. With some prints, you have to waterproof it with spray first, since the "protective" gel might damage it. Most of them are water-based.

I suppose you could brush or roll it on more evenly if you wanted the protection without the texture, but it wouldn't be my first choice for glazing.

The better-looking textured stuff is glossy (like the varnish on an oil) and the matte gel might accomplish what your customer wants.

But what do YOU want? That's all that matters.

A matte finish laminate might be better - certainly easier. I had a 5 mil (that's heavy) two-side laminate done at Kinko's a few weeks ago for $1.50/sq. ft. It was glossy, though.
 
I might be intrested in experimenting with this stuff (not T-Gel). I still hate drymounting. I can't imagine rolling or spraying anything on the business side of a print or poster.
 
A Z-Gel success story:

A few years ago (actually pre Z-Gel - I used something similar) my parents ran across an oil portrait of my grandfather done by a nationally known artist who is long dead. They tried to buy it from the museum, but they wouldn't hear of it.

In exchange for my reframing it (the framing was awful) they loaned it to us long-enough to have a 4x5 copy negative made. I had a 20x24 print made, mounted it and brush stroked it with gel and put it in a big honker L-J gold frame.

I suppose the copyright police will be knocking on my door. I'll move this thread to Warped and deny everything.

The new portrait looks terrific.
 
I just reframed a couple of posters that had Z-gel finish. Whoever did the job missed a couple of spots (easy to do when you're goign for texture) andthey faded, but the rest of the print didn't fade nearly as much. When asking for the reframing the customer wanted to know if I could put on more of the "color brightening stuff."
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I convinced her to put UV filtered glass on to slow the fading down.
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After texturizing something, I give it a coat of UV resisting krylon, so that, if I missed any spots, they will also be protected.

It's a good option for someone who doesn't want a mat for some reason. To me, a textured print in a frame without a mat looks classier than a trimmed poster under glass with no mat. (except in metal, of course)

I have one customer who gets EVERYTHING done that way. I pointed out that the poster of a watercolor wouldn't look right but she insisted. I did my best with it. She loved it. Go figure.
 
Ok so you take a poster ($3). Put texture on it ($X). Save the glass and matting (-$20)and frame it, and it looks like $1,000,000? Like a canvas?
 
Jay, if you take your time and follow the brush strokes - using the right brush - it will look like a canvas and can be very handsome.

A large one can be tedious so I take them home and work on them while I'm watching television. Neither requires much concentration. With good light, you'll see if you miss spots - especially as it dries - and you can fill them in.

To price them, do a couple of wall models and see how long they take you.
 
United has Z-Gel. (Walgreens has T-Gel.)

I think the difference between Z-Gel and some of the other gels is that you can get a heavier texture with Z-Gel. Possibly some materials are more resistant to yellowing than others.

I've had good results with Mod-Podge (glossy) from <font size=1>Hobby Lobby.</font>
 
I have had trouble with Mod-Podge getting tacky later when exposed to moisture. Z-gel, or even glossy gel medium (from your local art supply) is tougher when dry. You can clean dried gels with a damp rag, and even with a little dishwashing soap. This doesn't work so well with mod-podge.
 
Good to know.

I see another dust-cover warning label in the works: "Do not spit, sneeze or p*** on this print."

Seriously, Hanna, thanks. We don't want a protective surface that's easily water-damaged.
 
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