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Fixative: To Seal and Protect
Fixatives come in two varieties, workable and permanent. Workable fixatives offer the advantage by allowing you to edit your art work even after they are applied. For example, if you have completed a portion of your work and want to prevent smudging, you can seal the finished portion with a workable fixative and then finish the piece. Some workable fixatives even erase and allow editing of the already sealed portion. Permanent (or non-workable) fixatives are used for the protection of finished art work. As the name implies, once treated with these the artwork cannot be edited. You can purchase permanent fixative in either matte or glossy finishes. Even if you use a workable fixative during the creation of your art, it would be advisable to seal it with a permanent, non-workable fixative once it is complete.
Fixatives range in price from 4 dollars up to 15 dollars per can, depending on brand and variety. You can purchase a can of Krylon Workable Fixative at Wal-Mart and art supply stores for between 4 and 5 dollars. When purchasing fixative, be sure the label states that it is clear and non-yellowing. If you are worried the fixative may change the look of your medium, do a few tests on separate paper before applying it to your art work. I have found fixative tends to slightly reduce the reflective qualities of graphite, and making the treated piece slightly more matte.
Be sure and compare the many different varieties available at