GOLDEN Digital Mediums and Gel Topcoats

Along with the Digital Grounds, GOLDEN is also introducing two completely new Gel Topcoats with UVLS available in both Gloss and Semi-Gloss sheens. These gels can be used to add texture, create a clear barrier prior to working with paint or other materials, modify sheen, and provide a non-removable, water-based topcoat while also having the benefit of ultra violet light filters and stabilizers for protection against fading. 

In extensive testing, a 10 mil film of the Gel Topcoat has provided a similar degree of UV protection as GOLDEN MSA Varnishes and was able to preserve even fugitive dye and pigment-based inks after exposure to 1600 hours in a QUV Weatherometer, at 140° F, with ambient humidity normally below 50%. The accumulative UV exposure correlates roughly to the amount of UV one would expect from 100+ years of typical indoor gallery-lit conditions. 

In addition, the Gel Topcoats will help lower overall water-sensitivity, limit air exposure, and provide increased durability. Overall, when used as a final layer, these gels should greatly increase the longevity and lightfastness of whatever digital media you are working with. However, if exhibiting your pieces without glass, we still strongly recommend applying one of our removable varnishes in addition to the Gel Topcoat to facilitate cleaning and future conservation. 

Lastly, while initially developed as a topcoat for digital prints, the new 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. 

Just keep in mind that whenever mixing these gels with other materials, one is also lowering the degree of protection they can provide any underlying layers. In addition, maximum protection is only afforded when the gel sits up on top of the layer it needs to protect. Fugitive materials mixed into the gel will not  fully benefit from its ability to provide  UV protection.

Digital Ground White (Matte) - 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 the safest choice for use with unmodified desktop printers that still have 'pizza wheels' or ejection rollers. It is also 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) - 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 much more slowly, which can present problems for desktop printers that have ejection rollers or 'pizza wheels'. Because of this, we do not recommend using relatively nonporous substrates coated with the Digital Ground Clear on a desktop printer unless the printer's 'pizza wheels' or ejection rollers have been removed. However, when used on very porous surfaces like paper, this should not present a problem.

Digital Ground for Non-Porous Surfaces - Similar to the Clear described above but optimized for increased adhesion and performance on non-porous surfaces such as aluminum or plastic. We do not recommend using the Digital Ground for Non-Porous Surfaces on a desktop printer unless the printer's 'pizza wheels' or ejection rollers have been removed.