Fixative (drawing)

The fixative (from Latin " fixus, -a to " = " adherent, immutable ") is a solution that is used to color of change, damage and preserve the image carrier prior to stripping, especially in pastel painting and in charcoal drawings.

Fixatives containing alcohol (as fast evaporating solvent ) and a combination of various resins ( dammar resins, polyvinyl acetate, etc.), and shellac. The surface to be protected is sprayed with it. It forms a not or only weakly visible protective film covering the surface - the color - protects against environmental influences. Fixatives can be bought in cans or in glass bottles; the latter being used with a Mundvernebler.

Oil and acrylic paintings do not need fixing, since the pigments with the help of the binder in the paint adhere directly to the surface. Such images are - if at all - treated with a special varnish in order to protect them.

Pictures in water color techniques (watercolor, gouache, tempera) should not be coated with fixative, because the resin layer spoils the effect of the paint surface. This helps the framing behind glass.

The pastel painting, however, adhere to the dry pigments as powdery ink particles only very weakly on the surface. The smoother the painting surface, the easier the colors trigger again from him. Pastel paintings are so sensitive that they can already destroy by a light touch. For this reason, they must be carefully fixed. The more layers to get a pastel picture, the more the color needs to be done with fixative adhesive. There are " Zwischenfixative " and " Schlussfixative " with specific features. You stick the pigments together and form a durable film that makes the surface of the image to contact and protects against the effects of moisture or UV light. Nevertheless, well-mounted pastels with care to be treated. The spraying of the fixative, the treated surface is initially dark. After the fixative has dried, the colors are brighter. However, they are not quite as bright as before fixation. This must be taken into account when painting already. However, the relationship of colors to each other changes are usually not so that all contrasts are preserved. Fixatives are useful in the pastel painting also used to create special effects: they can be in liquid form dripped or passed directly to the color. One can also solve pigments in the fixative and spray it on the canvas, or spray, what strange textures results.

Fixing solutions evaporate quickly, are readily combustible and irritating to skin and mucous membranes. Furthermore, they should not be inhaled; all known manufacturers recommend the use in well ventilated areas.