Has anyone put a coat of Polyurethane or picture varnish for oil paintings on a polaroid emulsion transfer? I'm doing it on glass and want to make sure that when I clean the glass every once in awhile that the transfer doesn't get harmed. Seems like it might eat away at the transfer. Thanks for your help.

-- Heather Oelklaus (camerakarma@earthlink.net), February 15, 2004

Answers

With my first emulsion transfer, I was reluctant to coat with polyeurethane as well. What I ended up doing is I protected the surface with a piece of plexiglass....exactly like a frame....except mine was matted and the piece of acetate was fixed on the mat board. If you find any other way, I would like to know!!

-- E. Cody (e_d_cody@hotmail.com), February 27, 2004.

Well, it has been awhile since I first asked the question above. I have done many tests and have found a great varnish to protect my emulsion lifts on tiles and other surfaces. I now use "Golden Varnish.. MSA Varnish with UVLS (satin)" I tested a polaroid tile with half varnish and half UV spray, I taped it to my window that gets full sun most of the day here in Colorado for 6 months. The spray part was VERY faded to the point of almost gone and the varnish area was still bright and vibrant..hardly any fading noticed.

Hope this helps, I know it can be a pain to create a wonderful piece and be afraid to have it disappear.

-- Heather Oelklaus (camerakarma@earthlink.net), January 24, 2005.