Does Epoxy Resin Yellowing Affect Prints?

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If you’re planning to encapsulate prints or photographs in epoxy resin, it’s natural to wonder whether your images might become affected by yellowing over time. Epoxy resin clarity is essential for showcasing embedded artwork, so understanding yellowing is key.

Why Does Epoxy Resin Yellow?

All clear epoxy resins are prone to some degree of yellowing, particularly when exposed to sunlight or UV rays for extended periods. This natural process can result in a shift of colour that may subtly or noticeably alter the appearance of embedded prints. Modern formulations, such as Art Pro, “Trasparente”, and “Icrystal”, include integrated UV protection, which helps slow yellowing and preserve clarity, but it cannot eliminate the risk completely.

Protecting Your Prints: Best Practices

For maximum longevity of embedded images, choose an epoxy resin with built-in UV filters. These resins are specifically designed to maintain their transparency for as long as possible. Nevertheless, you can take extra precautions:

Position finished pieces away from direct sunlight where practical.
Seal inkjet prints or photographs with several coats of acrylic lacquer before embedding to help prevent bleeding and offer added protection.
Store and display resin art in shaded or indoor settings to minimise UV exposure.

When Yellowing Matters Most

Yellowing is a bigger concern for pieces intended for display in bright or sunlit environments, or when clarity is critical to highlight fine details in images. In these cases, selecting a resin like “Art Pro” or “Trasparente” with strong UV resistance makes a real difference.

Related guides

What Types Of Prints Should Be Used For Epoxy Resin

While some degree of yellowing is inevitable over the long term, choosing the right resin and following protective steps will help keep your prints as clear as possible. For more tips on working with art and images in resin, explore our guidance on what types of prints should be used for epoxy resin.