Protect your acrylic and oil pieces with a transparent, matte acrylic layer which can be removed to clean away surface dirt.
Sizes 9.8oz/280g
Use with
Acrylic paints & mediums
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Oil paints
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Character
Lightfast & archival
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Permanent
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Non-yellowing
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Flexible & non-cracking
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Water-resistant when dry
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Intermixable with all Liquitex materials
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What it does
Mineral spirit-based varnish adds a matte sheen, protects and resists dirt retention
Dries clear to a flexible, non-tacky, hard surface
Increases brightness and color saturation
Adjusts and unifies surface sheen
Improves surface durability - ideal when shipping or exhibiting
Protects colors from UV light damage
Resists discoloration - yellowing and fogging - caused by humidity, heat and UV
Depending on the substrate it allows surface moisture to pass through and breathe
Allows for easy cleaning without fear of damaging the acrylic paint film
Use on flexible or rigid supports
Designed for interior and exterior use
How to use it
Application
Before varnishing ensure paint surface is fully dry - 72 hours-two weeks for acrylics, depending on thickness, and 6-12 months for oils
Ensure your space is well ventilated and dirt and dust-free
Place the artwork flat on a surface - always varnish horizontally
Apply 1-2 coats of Gloss Medium as a permanent isolating barrier first and leave to dry for three days
Once completely dry, clean the surface with a lint-free rag dampened with mineral spirits
Apply 1-2 layers of Soluvar, leaving 24 hours between coats
Use long, even mists, covering the surface top to bottom while moving from one side to the other
Removal
Work in a clean, well-ventilated area
Wear a dual filter respirator (NIOSH-approved) and neoprene gloves
Use a small piece of soft, white, lint-free cloth dampened with true mineral spirits or turps. Lay the cloth on the surface for 15-30 minutes, checking to see if varnish is being dissolved. If it's taking longer, use a higher strength of the spirit and cover the area with plastic to slow down evaporation
After 15-30 minutes, rub the cloth over a small area 1-2 square inches until the Soluvar layer starts to dissolve
Using a clean cloth and more solvent, rub the area again to remove residue
Working horizontally, continue the same process for the entire area to be cleaned
If any paint comes off on the cloth, stop immediately and move onto another area
Once completed allow the surface to dry before reapplying a fresh coat of Soluvar
How not to use it
Don't apply in one thick coat, but several thin coats, to avoid drips and cloudiness
Don't go back over areas you have already done, as this can cause clouding
Don't use odorless mineral spirits, paint removers, ketones or any other harsh solvents
You can use all Liquitex Soluvar removable varnishes on oil paintings as these are solvent based. However our permanent varnishes are made with a water-based acrylic formula and are designed only for acrylics. These are not suitable for oil paintings.
Gloss Medium provides a buffer coat that protects the paint film against abrasion during future Soluvar removal for cleaning. Soluvar provides final UV varnish protection for the work.
You can use any of our varnishes once your spray paint has been completely dry for at least 24 hours. Our removable Soluvar Matte or Gloss Varnish works well on important pieces. This is an archival varnish which can be removed to clean the surface and is suitable for interior and exterior use. .
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