
What Can You Create?
Craftcoat Ink Print Clear makes suitable wood, metal and prepared ceramic surfaces inkjet-receptive, helping you produce vibrant, detailed prints while retaining the natural appearance of the material.
Key Benefits
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Clear finish – Preserves natural wood grain and underlying colours.
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Vibrant printing – Helps reduce ink bleeding and improve detail.
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Print and cut – Ideal for makers using the xTool M2 and other compatible equipment.
Application Instructions
How to Apply ⌄
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What surfaces can I use Ink Print Clear on? ⌄
Ink Print Clear is suitable for a range of materials, including birch plywood, light-coloured wood, metal and suitably prepared ceramic tiles. The clear coating allows the natural colour and texture of the underlying material to remain visible.
We recommend testing your chosen material before starting a finished project.
2. Does Ink Print Clear work with the xTool M2? ⌄
Yes. Ink Print Clear is designed for makers using equipment such as the xTool M2 print-and-cut system.
Apply the coating to your material, allow it to dry, print your design and then laser cut where appropriate.
3. Which types of ink can I use? ⌄
Ink Print Clear is designed to accept dye-based, pigment-based and UV inks.
Results can vary depending on the printer, ink formulation and material, so we recommend testing your combination before production.
4. How many coats should I apply? ⌄
One thin, even coat is generally sufficient.
More absorbent materials may benefit from an additional coat. Apply using a foam brush and allow the coating to dry before printing.
5. How long does Ink Print Clear take to dry? ⌄
You can leave the coating to air dry at room temperature until it is completely dry and no longer tacky.
Alternatively, drying can be accelerated using suitable equipment at approximately 40°C for 10 minutes, provided the material can safely tolerate the heat.
6. Can I use Ink Print Clear on ceramic tiles? ⌄
Yes, provided the tile is correctly prepared.
Ceramic tiles require a suitable adhesion promoter before applying Ink Print Clear.
After printing and allowing the ink to dry, a protective clear aerosol overcoat must be applied.
7. How long should I wait after printing? ⌄
On absorbent materials such as birch plywood, the printed ink generally dries almost immediately, allowing you to proceed to laser cutting.
Less absorbent materials, including ceramic tiles, may require several minutes of drying before handling.
8. Do I need to apply a protective coating after printing? ⌄
For most suitable materials, a protective aerosol clear overcoat is recommended where additional protection is required.
For ceramic tiles, a protective clear overcoat is essential.
Always ensure the printed ink is completely dry before applying the protective coating.
9. Does Ink Print Clear print white? ⌄
No. Ink Print Clear is transparent and does not provide a white background. The colour and appearance of your chosen material will influence the finished print.
For dark or coloured surfaces, you have two options:
- Use Craftcoat Ink Print White to create a white, inkjet-receptive base.
- Paint the surface white using a suitable white emulsion paint, allow it to dry completely, then apply Ink Print Clear before printing.
We recommend testing the coating on your chosen painted surface to ensure good adhesion and print quality.
10. Should I test the coating before starting production? ⌄
Yes. Different materials, inks and printing equipment can produce different results.
We recommend testing the complete coating, printing and finishing process before producing finished products or starting a production run.