How can I reduce glossy dark areas on a UV-printed photo on wood?

Asked 9/4/2014

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I had a photo printed directly onto wood using UV ink. The print looks great, but the dark/black ink areas reflect light and look glossy, while the lighter areas stay matte and show the wood grain. I can’t have it reprinted. Is there a safe way to reduce the shine and make the finish more matte?

display print-finishing wood-prints uv-printing matte-finish

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

11y ago

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Any advice on how to remove this shine and mattify the print?

There are a number of matte-finish sealers on the market, many in spray cans (which would be easiest to apply). One example is Krylon 1309 Gallery Series Artist and Clear Coatings Aerosol. I haven't used that particular product, but the description leads one to believe that it might help protect the image from moisture and UV as well as cutting the shine.

As with any untried product, you should test it on a sample before going to town on any important projects.

Originally by user4262. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user4262

11y ago

AI Answer

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A practical option is to apply a matte clear sealer, ideally a spray-on product made for artwork or photo surfaces. A matte coating can help even out the sheen and reduce reflections from the darker inked areas, while also adding some protection from moisture and UV.

Because this is a finished print on wood, test first on a sample or inconspicuous area before coating the whole piece. Different sealers can react differently with UV-printed surfaces, so a test is important.

In short: use a matte spray sealer/clear coat, apply lightly and evenly, and test before full application.

How can I reduce glossy dark areas on a UV-printed photo on wood?

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