The Artyfect Blog Information for Artist's

 Paint, Print, Photography,

Digital, Handmade or Reproduced…

As experiments in innovation and creativity expand, the versatility of acrylics is at the forefront. To assist artists in this arena, GOLDEN introduces...

3 Digital Grounds

2 UV Protective Gel Topcoats 

These products literally free digital images from the confines of prepared, commercial print media and allow you to print on different textures other than paper. Using a standard home desktop ink-jet printer, the virtual brushstrokes of programs such as Photoshop® can finally take on weight and enter the rich material world of acrylic gels, mediums and colors.

GOLDEN Digital Grounds

GOLDEN Digital Grounds turn just about any relatively flat surface into an ink-jet printable surface, providing the control and freedom to create textures and surfaces at whatever scale and shape desired.

On non-porous materials like acetate, plastic and metal, the inks readily pool up, run, and are easily smeared by both the printer mechanism and subsequent handling. In order to combat these problems and achieve the desired richness of color and detail, each droplet of ink somehow needs to be kept distinct and held in place by the substrate.

This is the major function and benefit of applying an ink-jet receptive coating. GOLDEN’s three Digital Grounds not only have the potential to extend the languages of printmaking, photography and painting in significant ways, but they liberate digital imagery from the flatland prison of pre-coated papers and canvases.

Digital Ground White (Matte) is a porous, opaque, white ground for use on a multitude of surfaces. As a porous ink-jet coating, it allows prints to dry extremely rapidly, making it an ideal starting point for the first-time user looking for the most trouble free application on a wide range of materials.

Digital Ground Clear (Gloss) is a clear ground with a gloss sheen for use on most absorbent surfaces, allowing the underlying material to show through. The nature of this type of ink-jet receptive coating, means that prints dry more slowly.

Digital Ground for Non-Porous Surfaces is similar to the Clear described above but optimized for increased adhesion and performance on non-porous surfaces such as aluminum or plastic.

GOLDEN Gel Topcoats w/UVLS

Gel Topcoats w/UVLS are available in both Gloss and Semi-Gloss sheens. With the benefit of ultraviolet light filters and stabilizers, these gels provide a non-removable, water-based topcoat offering protection against fading for digital media, collage, or any material below the topcoat. In addition, these gels can be used to add texture, create a clear barrier prior to working with paint or other materials and modify sheen.

When used as a final layer, these gels should greatly increase the longevity and lightfastness of whatever digital media you are working with.

While initially developed as a topcoat for digital prints, GOLDEN Gel Topcoats are fully compatible with other GOLDEN Gels, Mediums, and Acrylic Colors and therefore, can be used whenever their attributes are needed. For example, they can be used to create gel skins, image gel transfers, decoupage collage elements, extend paints or increase their transparency, create a wet layer to work into, or simply as a clear ground to work on top of.

NOTE: When working with any of the new GOLDEN Digital Grounds damage to your printer is a possibility, especially as one begins to explore or push boundaries. Because of that, use of older, less valuable printers can sometimes be a good way to initally experiment and learn about these products. If using a higher-end printer, or one still under warranty, realize that modifying your printer in any way, or using materials not approved by the manufacturer, will usually void that coverage. Artyfect and/or Golden cannot accept any liability for damages.