Timeless

Our general rule is 2-3 minutes. In looking at our Timeless Satin or Timeless Matte coatings, this is very important for several reasons. Timeless Satin and Matte have matting agents that need to be mixed properly. Over time, the coating formula can separate when sitting on a shelf. The matting agents typically drift to the bottom, so when mixing be sure to reach the all the way down to the very bottom. You don’t necessarily need to “scrape” the bottom of the container, but pay close attention to it. Be sure to lift your mixing spoon from time to time to bring up any matting agents that haven’t fully mixed. If you want to use something more economical than a spoon, you can use a wire whisk or even an electric mixing device (a blender might be a bit overboard and could create undesirable air bubbles). After a few minutes you will see an even consistency, indicating that it is time to coat.

If you have any flakes or chunks of coating in your container, the easiest way to remove them is through a strainer. Just fill your measuring cup with the amount needed, and pour through a strainer into another cup (or container). The strainer will catch everything solid and you can just throw it out. Don’t have a strainer? Use a coffee filter. Just grab a large cup or container and tape a coffee filter to the rim. Then, slowly pour your coating into the filter. A coffee filter takes time for liquid to pass through it, so pour a little at a time. This is a good trick because it will pick up anything that isn’t pure liquid, and the end result is a perfect mix of coating.

Canvas absorbs a little more ink then a standard photo paper (where ink dries on top of the inkjet receptive coating, thus requiring less ink). Canvas needs to outgas before you laminate it. Outgassing involves water evaporating from the ink during the drying process. This is why it is also important not to stack prints until they are completely dry. After completing your print, allow up to 24 hours before coating to allow outgassing to complete. 

This depends on a few factors (temperature, humidity), but in most cases a print coated with Timeless will be dry in about an hour. Under ideal printing/coating conditions (50-70 degrees F; 30-50% indoor humidity), Timeless can dry in about half the time.

Be sure that you have used the correct print settings/profile for your printer and canvas. If the wrong media type is used you could potentially print with too much ink. If there is excess ink this will only dry on the surface and when coating with a foam roller, the excess ink will be agitated and come out on the roller (and your print).

If you have insured the proper print settings were used, make sure you allowed enough time for the print to dry. Ink can come up when the roller has changed directions since it’s an abrasive move, which causes more friction. With Timeless, this is especially important since it requires pressure to apply. Always apply coating in straight lines as this will not damage the print at all.

Timeless needs to be applied with pressure, but reducing the amount of pressure when you finish coating is important. If you notice roller marks while the print is still wet, simply go over them with  firm pressure and reduce the pressure with each roll movement. After a few seconds, each roller mark should disappear.

These issues are typically caused by too much coating. Since canvas needs to absorb coating eventy, too much coating creates air pockets in the canvas. When the air tries to escape, it pushes itself out either partially (air bubbles) or completely (pinholes). If you notice these issues while the print is still wet, simply go over these areas with your roller with light pressure (Timeless) or no pressure (Glamour II). If you are spraying with an HVLP gun, try going over the print with a light 2nd coat as this usually fills in the pinholes and breaks the air bubbles. This must be done while the print is wet.