Question Sealing clinets printed canvases - yes or no

[5th corner]

Hi All,

Now up and running. Hope I get organised oneday soon. So many things to do and tweek.

A question that has always bothered me. Re sealing canvases. Used to be a huge debate and rusty on front of shop so not sure what the current thoughts are?

If a client brings a canvas freshly printed should one seal it after streatching? Got one of those today.

Last week got a beautiful canvas but it is a limited edition print? Previous owner took order and no questions asked and no paperwork with print to say what and how it was printed and how it should be treated. Apparently there are water based printers and oil based??.

I have installed a large format printer myself and have the stuff to seal what I print but that is cause I know what has been printed and has been done to what I print.

What is the current thought? In the past there was a debate that it shold be the printer or the framer?

Scared to do anything other than stretch the L.ED.

Obviously things still need sealing? Last place I worked at used to seal canvases with a mat spray.

bye for now sam

 

[wpfay]

I guess it depends on how much of the liability you want to assume.
I don't alter customers work. Hasn't happened to me, but other local framers have lost their shirts when treating giclees on canvas. IMHO the artist or the person doing the printing should be the one to apply any treatment to the art.

 

[JbNormandog]

I don't alter customers work.

Words of wisdom, I don't do anything to artwork unless the customer gives me multiple images to play with.

Don't alter art.

Bob

 

[Paul N]

What Wally said.

Absolutely no alteration of any kind, now matter how much they plead, willing to sign a release or how "worthless / inexpensive / cheap" the art is.

It's a Pandora's Box of trouble and a very slippery road.

 

[Dave]

I agree with Wally. I know enough to be dangerous about giclee printing inks and substrates but one thing I do know is that different coatings are needed for different processes.

If unknown, I always contact the customer or printer to determine if a canvas has been coated. If it hasn't I refer the customer back to the printer for coating or put the work under glazing for protection when in doubt.