Fixatives for your sketches?

[miesie]

Hi,
do you guys using fixatives for every single sketchbook page? (especially pencil sketches)
I've a problem lately, that all my previous pencil sketches become blurry and fuzzy without fixatives...actually i dont use them, so i dont know if they'll solve this problem. Is there a trick to prevent this fuzziness?

Thanks anyway. :)



/lurker

[mogando25]

No I personally do not use fixatives. I used to have the same problem (btw I'm left handed). Just slow down your pencil strokes and don't let the base of your hand rest on the paper. If you don't understand just post again and I'll take some pictures for ya. Another method is to place a piece of paper on the are you want to cover and then rest your hand on the paper.

Cheers. :rendered:

[miesie]

Hi mogando,
you got me little bit wrong, but nevermind...it's not the base of my hand hand, which makes my sketches blurry, but by the weight of the other sketchbook pages they become less saturated and blurry. (The Graphite adhere to the back of the pages... :er: )



Bye

[I.was.ink]

I used to have the same problem and it pissed me off, so now, I use fixative on all my pages or stuff starts to smudge like crazy.

If you want to see my sketchbook pages go HERE (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=13910&page=3) and you'll see that there are no smudges(except for where I accidentally rub my hand on the drawing)

iwasink

[miesie]

Hey Iwasink,
i already checked up on your Sketchbook two weeks ago, immediatley created an iwasink folder on my hdd ~lick~ ;)

Okay, im gonna buy me a fixative, now. Is there a great difference between mattfinished or "shiny" fixatives?


Bye

[Big-Dave]

If it's just sketches you might be better buying some cheap hairspray and using that. It'll work pretty well, only downside is I've heard it can yellow sketches after a while (so don't use it for finished pieces)

Oh, and the only difference between matt and glossy fixatives are the glossy is shiney and the matt isn't

[I.was.ink]

Im sure there is, but I use matte. I think that with shiny it might be too shiny and so you'd have to tilt and move the pages so the glare wouldnt be so bad.I dont know how shiny it really is though.

The one thing I suggest is that once you spray it is to let it dry for a bit outside, cuz it will stink for a few minutes. So don't spray it inside. :)

iwasink

[Main Loop]

harder pencils tend to smudge less than others, i like to use hb's.. using a smudge stick also seems to make it less likely to rub off on the facing page.. faber castells dont seem to smudge as much s other pencils, at least in harder ones..

try using wax based pencils like prismacolors or verithins.. verithins feel more like graphite, but cant go as dark..

[skinns]

I use sketch book for sketching, so if something smudges its alright. If I see a sketch that I would like to take a more polished stat than I recreate it on illustration cold press board. 12x10 is a size to have them cut at. There sturdy, the durable and are a little more impressive to hand to someone.

[mogando25]

whoops, well hmm... I take tracing paper and tape it on top of finished pieces, that works for me.

[Vader]

I have also experienced the same problem i tend to use fix on all pages that are pencil, charcoal or chalks. I can recommend "Winsor and Newton fixative" i find this a very good product. Although i suppose that all fixatives do the same job really.

Vader

[miesie]

Besides _what_ fixative u use, _how much_ do u usually use?

Im not sure how much i should put on my pencil sketches to fix them, but not to make them a sheet of plastic. (oh yeah drunken english..)

[Mindflaw]

Hi

I use a fairly cheap fixative. I asked the artshop dude what the difference between that one and some other more expensive brand of fixative and got the answer that the price was the only difference. If you have a good artshop ask them and you get the fixative that do the trick and is somewhat wallet-friendly unless you go for hairspray which is a lot cheaper but it is true that some brands do get them yellow as Bid-Dave says so it's a risk.

The best way to get the right amount of fixative for your brand of fixative, pencils (hard, soft etc) and skechbook is to experiment just spray one thin layer, let dry then try to smudge with your finger does it smudge much if yes repeat, it doesn't need to be totally smudgefree to do the trick. and always spray in thin layers and at some distance at least about 20 cm as to get best result. I usually spray two to three thin layers when using pencils.

Oh and just to repeat don't spray inside and if you do anyway make sure the room has good ventilation, since it's not only stinks but it's bad for you aswell I repeat bad for your health, unless you are the type that sniffs glue, (then you're lost anyway);)

[GriNGo]

I think fixatives are unnecessary for sketch books. I mean, its a sketch... rough, tough drawings you did in several minutes or so. At least when you sketch with graphite, i think it would be a waste of the spray. When you use carbon, then it would justify it's usage a lot cause carbon based materials are messy like hell. For the moment I use in my drawings, so I barely use it all.

Greetings!
GriNGoLoCo

[willow angel]

I got a question about fixatives sprays for finished drawings. I have heard that one make your draw pretty glossy. (I work with bristol, colored pencil and marker).

Do someone as a clue about the name of this fixative product? Thank! :wink: