Fixing pastels?

[phs Paddy]

After applying pastels as a dust or wash what is your method of choice for fixing the area? There maybe applications where the preference is not to fix.  I’m new at this and would appreciate any guidance or suggestions.

Thanks for your time. 

Paddy

[ta152c]

Some modellers spray them with matt varnish.

[phs Paddy]

Thanks for that David.

Paddy

[Chris Johnson]

I used good old Testor's Dullcote on mine Paddy, and it worked well.

Cheers,

Chris

[Ian from Doncaster]

A spray of matt varnish or a carefully brushed on coat of Klear - the latter is ok if the pastels are brushed into the paint well, especially if the base paint is matt and provides a good key for the pastels.

[coyotemagic]

Hey, Paddy.  For me, it depends considerably on what I intend to do next.  First, I always apply pastels to a matt finish, brush off the excess with a stiff brush then rub them in with a cotton swab.  If I'm pre-shading, sometimes I'll simply spray on the top coat color right over the pastels.  If I'm going to apply a water color wash, I'll spray on a semi-gloss clear coat to fix them.  I like to use semi-gloss because the wash won't soak in, but won't bead up and run off, either.  If I'm dirtying up tires, I'll first spray the tires with a dull coat enamal then, before it's completely dry, I'll roll the tire in some loose, ground up brown/tan pastel dust and fix it with a matt finish.  Like I said, depends on what I'm doing.
Cheers,
Bud

[Pete Nottingham]

I tend to use MIG Pigments (similar to pastels) I apply them, always to a matt coat, then spray with varnish, or mix with a varnish and apply wet and I even mix them with varnish and spray through my airbrush.

Cheers

Pete.

[phs Paddy]

Thanks very much gents. I think you all have prepared me to stick my toe in the water now. It's much appreciated. 

Paddy

[Rob Hart]

My experience has been that any clear coat you apply will make the pastels look darker.

[ALBATROS1234]

true application of matt cote darkens colors, but how else can you fix them? this is what i do i just compensate by applying lighter color than i want knowing it will darken.

[ta152c]

A very good tip there, cool solution.

Regards

[phs Paddy]

Ah! More good stuff from Rob and RB to keep me on the straight and narrow. Thanks gents. This maybe the day the toe tests the water. The more I study all the posts the more convinced I am that to bring around my bleach linen issue in my current project is to proceed with this technique.

Paddy 

[phs Paddy]

true application of matt cote darkens colors, but how else can you fix them? this is what i do i just compensate by applying lighter color than i want knowing it will darken.

Hello Scott.

Thanks for your approach which is always appeciated and last but not least great to see you here. 

Paddy 

[phs Paddy]

A very good tip there, cool solution.

Regards

Thanks for jumping in David and I agree that Scott's approach is a keeper. 

Paddy

[Trackpad]

Some modellers spray them with matt varnish.

Hi, Paddy,

This is what I do, as ta152c says: just a light misting of Dullcote to seal the surface. I use pigments mainly on armour models, and I haven't noticed any apreciable darkening of them with Dullcote. Maybe I'm using too little to have that effect, but I'll watch for it next time I use the DC. Hope this helps!