Digital Prints

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Mastering Digital Printing
Embellishing Prints
Embellishing means taking a digital print and adding hand brush strokes, glitter, textures, or
other artistic flourishes and enhancements to give the print a more custom look. This is also
a form of “digital mixed media,” and it’s very popular among certain artists printing giclée
reproductions since selling prices can be much higher than with non-embellished prints.
One important question about embellishing is: do you need to seal the print, and what
sort of embellishing media can you use? Some experimentation may be required. For
example, Toronto printmaker John Toles at Dragonfly Imaging & Printing works with
artists who embellish their PremierArt WR Glossy Canvas prints (Epson UltraChrome
inks) by (1) allowing the prints to dry at least 24 hours, (2) using two light coats of Print
Shield protective spray coating to seal the prints, and finally (3) applying acrylic paints
(not oils) by hand with a brush. In fact, some artists, like Dorene Macaulay, do much
more! (See next image.)
Artist Karin Schminke advises that the type of medium and coating will determine how
and if sealing is required and which materials work best. “If you are using a gelatin-based,
pre-coated paper or canvas (often gloss or semigloss surfaces), they will dissolve when moistened
and therefore need to be sealed before adding other media.” (For more about using
custom pre-coats and even more about digital mixed media printmaking, see Chapter 11.)
Other artists report success after spraying paper prints with an acrylic sealer like Krylon
brand clear spray and then painting over that with acrylic medium.
Inset is painter Craig Forrest’s
10-10-10, which he prints as limitededition
giclées on his Epson 7600. His
hand numbering shows that this is the
35th print in an edition of 400.
© 2001 Craig Forrest.
Courtesy of Craig Forrest
www.sleepyhollowstudio.com