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Photographic Lacquer Coatings & Sprays
Lacquer-Mat coatings and sprays protect, enhance, and finish photographic prints. Applied as a clear protective layer, photographic lacquer guards prints against scuffing, fingerprints, moisture, and UV damage while adding the finish your clients expect — from a high-gloss diamond shine to a soft matte surface ideal for retouching. Tyndell carries the full Lacquer-Mat line in aerosol cans, gallons, and water-based roller coater formulas for labs of every size.
The aerosol spray line includes six distinct finishes. Diamond delivers the highest possible gloss — a crystal-clear, hard surface that preserves shadow detail and will not scuff. Flat provides a durable matte finish that tones down high-contrast prints and reduces surface reflections. Pearl is a luster semi-gloss finish especially suited for protecting high-key photography. Satina creates a smooth, satiny surface with superior scuff protection. Suede is designed specifically for pencil retouching, providing a surface that holds pencil, pastel, oil, and airbrush medium. Texture is a heavy-bodied lacquer that gives prints a pebble finish and can be sprayed over any of the other lacquers for a layered effect. Aerosol cans start at $18.04 and all six finishes are also available in gallon format for spray gun application at $99.72 per gallon.
For high-volume labs and production environments, the Water-Mat series offers water-based roller coater solutions. Water-Mat 2000 is designed for low-volume users, Water-Mat 3000 is built for high-volume labs, and Water-Mat 4000 is applied with conventional spray equipment and provides UV water-resistant protection. All Water-Mat formulas are available in Diamond, Pearl, and Satina finishes. A Water-Mat Replenisher is also available to keep the coating fresh between uses.
Why Photographers Choose Lacquer-Mat from Tyndell
Lacquer-Mat products are the industry standard for photographic print finishing. They offer the finest retouching finish, highest gloss, and hardest surface of any photographic lacquer. Every formula is fast drying and won't cause spotting or lifting of artwork, and Lacquer-Mat aerosol cans deliver more coating per can than any other brand. Whether you're a portrait photographer finishing a single wall print or a production lab coating hundreds of prints a day, Tyndell carries the right Lacquer-Mat product for the job.
Frequently Asked Questions About Photographic Lacquer Coatings
What does photographic lacquer do, and why should I coat my prints? Photographic lacquer creates a protective coating over your prints that guards against scuffing, fingerprints, moisture, and UV fading. Beyond protection, lacquer also enhances the visual quality of the print — a gloss lacquer deepens shadow detail and adds vibrancy, while a matte lacquer reduces reflections and gives prints a fine-art look. For photographers delivering prints to clients, lacquer coating adds a professional finished quality and extends the life of the print.
What is the difference between the Lacquer-Mat finishes? Lacquer-Mat offers six finishes to match different photographic styles and needs. Diamond is a high-gloss, crystal-clear finish for maximum vibrancy and shadow detail. Flat is a matte finish that reduces reflections and tones down high-contrast images. Pearl provides a luster semi-gloss especially suited for high-key photography. Satina delivers a smooth, satiny surface with strong scuff resistance. Suede is a specialty finish designed for pencil retouching and hand-coloring. Texture creates a pebble-pattern surface for a contemporary look and can be layered over other lacquers.
Should I use aerosol cans or gallons? Aerosol cans are convenient for low-to-medium volume use — one can coats many prints and requires no additional equipment. Gallons are more economical for photographers and labs that coat prints in higher volume, as gallon lacquer is applied with a spray gun for faster, more even coverage. For the highest-volume production labs, the Water-Mat roller coater system provides the most efficient application method.
What is the Water-Mat series? Water-Mat is a water-based lacquer coating designed for roller coater application in professional photo labs. Water-Mat 2000 is formulated for low-volume users, Water-Mat 3000 is built for high-volume lab production, and Water-Mat 4000 is applied with conventional spray equipment and provides UV water-resistant protection. All Water-Mat products are available in Diamond, Pearl, and Satina finishes, and a Water-Mat Replenisher additive is available to keep the solution performing like new.
Can I layer different Lacquer-Mat finishes on the same print? Yes. The Texture spray in particular is designed to be applied over any of the other Lacquer-Mat finishes. This allows you to first apply a protective base coat in your preferred finish (such as Diamond or Satina) and then add the Texture spray on top for a pebble-pattern surface. Layering gives you both the protective benefits of the base coat and the visual effect of the texture finish. You can find all of our Coatings & Sprays, Aerosol Cans, Gallons, and Water-Mat on this page!
