Painting on latex printed canvas

I'm an artist and painter that is always on the look for new media possibilities to utilize in my artworks.

Having recently discovered the latex ink printing technology, I have two questions that I will be truly grateful if you can answer.

I have printed out digital artworks using the HP W800 latex printer. The prints were done on a traditional gesso primed canvas. The setting on the printer was "general canvas".

My first question, would it be okay if paint over these prints using fine art oil paint? would that compromise the adhesion and longevity of my oils paint and the printed image? Do you recommend priming my canvas with transparent waterbased lacquer before applying my oil paint?

My second question does the HP W800 give archival museum quality digital prints with color permanence or do you recommend other technologies for archival digital printing?

I would really appreciate your guidance and support as I have searched the web without reaching any legitimate professional advice.

With thanks and best regards!

Hi @khaldounmhijazin10223,

We don't have any experience in applying oil paint on top of the printed image. It is difficult to foresee how it will behave and if it will affect adhesion or longevity. As a general recommendation, I would say it is better to apply lacquer on top of the printed image, before the oil paint. Although we have not tested it, we believe that Clear Shield Canvas Guard from Marabu can work.

https://www.marabu-northamerica.com/products/product-overview/detail-view/clearshield-758.html

We have tested a similar product from the same Marabu portfolio on Wallpaper and the results were positive. That's why we are quite confident that Canvas Guard can be a good option for this purpose.

Regarding the archival printing warranty, we don´t have it for latex inks. The below document refers to pigment and inkjet inks from HP, but not Latex ones.

https://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetPDF.aspx/c04782376.pdf

I hope this helps.

#2 Thank you very much Daniella for your kind answer on this.

Regarding the color permanence, I know there isn't maybe accurate test findings on the Latex ink colors used in the W800 printer, but I found out this document by HP that claims aprox. 200 years for printing on canvas/textile in (indoor/away from direct sunlight). Please refer to the attached image.

200 years usually qualifies printed artworks to have the status of "archival print". How confidently would you say I can add this as a guarantee for potential buyers/collectors/museums etc..?

I would also totally understand if this may not be your specific area of expertise, in that case could you please forward my inquiry to the proper department at HP? I hear Mr. Roman Barba (HP Barcelona) is the top HP expert to ask about this.

Hi @kdu10223,

You can find additional details in the HP Latex 700 and 800 Printer Series durability brochure from this article: https://lkc.hp.com/printers/hp-latex-700/blog/hp-latex-inks-and-print-durability-brochure-hp-latex-700-and-800-printer-series.

The tests for light-fade resistance away from direct sunlight are still ongoing, there is a note in the document. Even after the completion of the mentioned tests, if the values are above 200, I can't confirm that the printed artwork would qualify as an archival print.

I hope this helps.

Hi @kdu10223,

As a note, I suggest contacting Wilhelm Imaging Research – they are the established experts on this topic and would be the best choice to conduct the testing that would support such a warranty: wilhelm-research.com. On their website, you can also find a number of references to the print performance evaluation of HP printers/inks (and competitors), many articles about print permanence. If you conduct this testing independently through Wilhelm, this would be the best way to sell this as a guarantee.

While the HP W800 is a solid printer, achieving archival museum-quality digital prints with color permanence often depends on factors like the quality of ink, paper, and canvas used.

It's great to see your enthusiasm for exploring new media possibilities in your artworks! Regarding your first question, it's essential to ensure good adhesion between your oil paints and the latex printed canvas. Priming the canvas with a transparent water-based lacquer can be a smart move, as it provides a suitable surface for oil paints to adhere to without compromising the printed image. This extra layer can help protect your artwork in the long run. By the way, if you ever decide to display your artwork or photos as canvas prints, https://www.frameshop.com.au/canvas-prints is a great option for creating stunning and long-lasting pieces.